Abstract
Background: Recovery among patients with cardiac disease also requires attention to their sexual health. However, cultural, religious, and social factors may make Arab Muslim patients reluctant to disclose their sexual concerns and nurses hesitant to discuss patients' sexuality matters.
Objective: The aim of this study was to explore sexual counseling (SC) among nurses in Jordan in terms of responsibility, confidence, and practice.
Method: This was a descriptive, correlational study. Staff nurses were recruited from 10 hospitals in Jordan. Nurses completed the cardiac version of the Survey of Sexuality-Related Nursing Practice and reported their demographics.
Results: The sample consisted of 379 nurses (female, 59%; mean age, 28.1 years). A significant proportion of nurses viewed assessment/discussion of patients' sexuality matters as not within their responsibilities (39%), did not feel confident to address sexuality matters (50%), and rated themselves as not at all/not very knowledgeable about sexuality (60%). Few nurses were routinely integrating SC in clinical practice (9%). Sexual counseling was associated with nurses' gender (male, higher confidence and practice) and previous training on sexuality in nursing practice.
Conclusions: Nurses in Jordan, especially female nurses, are neither prepared nor competent to provide SC. Nurses need focused education on sexuality to optimize patients' sexual health.