Progress in sexual counseling by cardiac nurses, 1994 to 2009

ObjectiveTo examine trends in the practice of sexual counseling by cardiac nurses.MethodsA non-experimental descriptive design was used to analyze survey data collected at 2 time points: 1994 (n = 171) and 2009 (n = 288).ResultsNurses in the 2009 sample reported more conservative values (P < .001) and greater sense of responsibility for providing sexual counseling (P < .0001) than those in the 1994 sample. Although sexual activities (cuddling, kissing, fondling, masturbation, oral sex) were discussed more frequently by nurses in the 1994 survey (P < .001), improvements in the specific discussion of myocardial infarction-related sexual activity and counseling were noted in the 2009 sample, including by patient age and gender (P < .0001).ConclusionComparison of the 2 data samples suggests an improving trend in provision of sexual counseling by cardiac nurses, which can be reinforced by including sexual counseling information and role-play opportunities in continuing education courses.