Erectile dysfunction: Why is it the ignored symptom of cardiovascular disease?
Authors
Murray, GemmaAdvisors
Fallows, StephenPublication Date
2007-10
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Show full item recordAbstract
This study aimed to identify the reasons why erectile dysfunction (ED) is the ignored symptom of cardiovascular disease (CVD). A qualitative, ethnographic approach is used to elicit personal experiences through semi-structured interviews of 18 nurses, identified using a nonprobability purposive sample. Three different groups of nurses were interviewed, all with current experience of cardiovascular patients. Six nurses were interviewed in each group, which were cardiology ward nurses from secondary care and practice nurses and cardiac rehabilitation nurses from primary care. Burnard’s (1991) thematic content analysis was used to reduce and categorise the data under four main headings, knowledge base, role / best person, barriers and improvements. The findings demonstrate lack of knowledge about ED, the link with CVD, causes and treatment. Only one nurse thought discussions regarding ED were not part of his role. Thoughts regarding the best person to address ED were split between medical and nursing staff, although male staff were felt to be more appropriate this was rarely possible, especially within nursing staff. Barriers to addressing ED were embarrassment, age and culture of the patient and health care professional, the relationship between the patient and the health care professional, gender of the health care professional, the environment and lack of time and knowledge. Ways to improve the assessment of ED were identified, such as the need for training and the use of literature for patients, which will hopefully improve local knowledge about ED and therefore improve patient care.Publisher
University of ChesterType
Thesis or dissertationLanguage
enSponsors
Bradford and Airedale Teaching Primary Care TrustCollections
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