Information and counselling on sexual health in cardiac and respiratory disease: description of community dwelling patients' needs and reflections of health care professionals.
Klompstra L, Persson T, et al. • International journal for equity in health • 2025
This study highlights a significant gap between the sexual health needs of patients with cardiac and/or respiratory diseases and the information provided by HCPs, with most patients desiring more support.
Key Findings
Results
The vast majority of community-dwelling cardiac and respiratory patients reported that sexual health affected their overall well-being.
85% of surveyed patients reported that their sexual health affected their well-being.
A total of 144 patients with cardiac and/or respiratory diseases participated in the online survey.
The study used a cross-sectional design with an online survey.
Patients were community-dwelling, not recruited from clinical settings, which is noted as a distinctive feature of this study.
Results
Only a small fraction of patients reported receiving sexual health information from healthcare providers.
Only 7% of patients said they received information on sexual health from healthcare providers.
This figure was drawn from the online survey of 144 community-dwelling patients with cardiac and/or respiratory diseases.
This finding represents a major gap between current practice and patient need.
Results
A large majority of patients expressed a desire for information or counselling regarding sexual health.
84% of patients expressed a desire for information or counselling regarding sexual health.
This contrasts sharply with the 7% who reported actually receiving such information.
The gap between desire for information (84%) and receipt of information (7%) indicates a substantial unmet need among community-dwelling patients.
Results
Healthcare professionals identified five themes related to providing sexual health information and counselling.
Ten HCPs participated in focus groups.
The five themes identified were: personal biases, organizational factors, societal norms, knowledge and experience, and the need to break mutual silence.
HCPs highlighted the importance of professionalism, respect, and clear communication in addressing sexual health among patients.
Focus groups were conducted with HCPs involved in the care of patients with cardiac and respiratory disease.
Background
Most studies on sexual health are conducted in clinical populations, leaving a gap in data on community-dwelling cardiac and respiratory patients.
The authors note that data on sexual health and information needs among community-dwelling cardiac and respiratory patients are scarce.
This study specifically targeted community-dwelling patients to address this gap.
The study had two aims: to describe patient experiences, needs, and preferences, and to describe HCPs' experiences and conditions under which they provide sexual health information.
Results
Barriers to HCPs providing sexual health counselling include personal biases, organizational constraints, and societal norms.
These barriers were identified through focus groups with 10 HCPs.
The theme of 'breaking mutual silence' suggests both patients and providers may avoid initiating discussions about sexual health.
The authors conclude that overcoming these barriers requires respectful communication, professional training, and supportive healthcare structures.
What This Means
This research suggests that people living with heart or lung disease in the community have significant concerns about their sexual health, yet almost none of them receive guidance on this topic from their healthcare providers. In a survey of 144 patients, 85% said their sexual health affected their overall well-being, and 84% wanted information or counseling on the topic — but only 7% reported ever receiving any such information from a healthcare professional. This enormous gap between what patients need and what they actually receive points to a major overlooked aspect of chronic disease care.
The study also gathered perspectives from healthcare professionals (HCPs) through focus group discussions. Ten HCPs described five key challenges to addressing sexual health with patients: their own personal biases, organizational barriers within the healthcare system, broader societal norms around discussing sex, limited knowledge and experience on the topic, and a pattern of mutual silence where neither the patient nor the provider raises the subject. HCPs acknowledged the importance of professionalism and respectful communication but identified these multiple layers of obstacles that prevent the topic from being addressed.
This research suggests that healthcare systems need to do more to support patients with cardiac and respiratory diseases in managing their sexual health. This may require targeted training for healthcare professionals, clearer institutional guidelines encouraging these conversations, and a cultural shift that normalizes sexual health as a routine part of chronic disease management. Because this study focused on community-dwelling patients rather than those in hospitals or clinics, it captures the everyday experiences of a broader population that is often overlooked in research.
Klompstra L, Persson T, Klingvall E, Skoglund A, Särén F, Jaarsma T. (2025). Information and counselling on sexual health in cardiac and respiratory disease: description of community dwelling patients' needs and reflections of health care professionals.. International journal for equity in health. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-025-02682-1