Sexuality of hospital patients and their partners: a pilot study

Two thirds of the patients with (chronic) illness or handicap (such as spinal
cord injury, non-congenital brain damage, spasticity, muscle disease, or spina
bifida) are dissatisfied with their sexual life and would appreciate
professional help for these sexual problems. Of these patients only 1 in 3
indeed receives professional help. Help for sexual problems was found to
increase sexual satisfaction, to improve self-esteem and life satisfaction
(Kedde, 2006).
Sexological health care is thus of great importance for patients with chronic
illness or handicap. This type of help, however, is often missing in the range
of help services for these patients, although they often meet with difficulties
in the field of relationship development and sexual functioning, as a result of
problems with self-esteem or medication. Moreover, many professionals in the
field of chronic illness and handicap experience a taboo regarding this topic
and are hesitant to discuss sexuality with their patients. As a result of this
professional uncertainty, the patient's quality of life may diminish and - in
due time - prolonged use of expensive, but inappropriate health care services
may ensue. It is unknown as yet which type and intensity of care is needed to
provide adequate sexual health care to chonically ill and handicapped patients.
Recent Dutch research among patients with permanent handicaps or physical
limitations (spinal cord laesions, non-congenital brain damage, spasticity,
muscle disease, or spina bifida; Kedde, 2006) has shown that men in this group
are sexually dysfunctional significantly more often than healthy men with
regard to their erectile and orgasmic functioning. About 1 in 20 individuals in
this group requests help.
It is not clear to which extent other groups of patients with somatic or
psychiatric illness also experience elevated rates of sexual dysfunction and
associated need for help.

This pilot study aims to investigate sexual wellbeing, sexual functioning and
sexual health care need within four groups of patients with major illness (COPD
patients, gynaecological patients, pelvic care patients, and patients with
depressive disorder) that have the somatic health care system. Furthermore, it
aims to gauge the willingness of patients in these departments to participate
in future prospective and controlled intervention research in this field.
Because of the potential psychological burden associated with the completion of
the questionnaires in this study, this investigation requires approval from the
institutional ethics board.

Observational, cross-sectional, questionnaire study

The burden for participant comprises completion of the questionnaire. This is
estimated to require 45-60 minutes. No know risks are associated with
completion of this questionnaire.