A Survey on the Experience of Singaporean Trainees in Obstetrics/Gynecology and Family Medicine of Sexual Problems and Views on Training in Sexual Medicine

A Comparative Study of Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Aripiprazole on Marital Instability of in Patients with Hypersexual

Background

Sexual desire and sexual activity are natural needs of human beings, which can be problematic and lead to various sexual disorders, if not used in the right way, including hypersexuality. The present study aimed to compare the effect of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and aripiprazole drug on marital instability in patients with hypersexuality.

Materials and Methods

This experimental case--control Pretest--Posttest Control Group Design with follow up was done on 27 male and female patients with hypersexuality having at least a higher education degree selected from four hospitals and psychiatric centers including Khorshid Hospital, Asgariyeh Specialized Hospital, Farhangian Clinic and Imam Reza Medical Center in Isfahan and were randomly assigned to two groups of treatment (nine patients in every group) and one group of control (nine patients) after adjusting the age and gender. Pretest phase was done for both three groups using Marital Instability Index (MII). The first treatment group underwent DBT intervention for eight sessions of 2 hours (once a week), and the second experimental group was prescribed aripiprazole for 2 months. Afterwards, the posttest and follow-up were performed for all the three groups. The data were analyzed using SPSS 24 and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA).

Results

The findings showed that DBT and aripiprazole had little effect on the problem of marital instability in patients with hypersexuality (p > 0.05); also, there was no significant difference between the effect of DBT and aripiprazole (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

DBT and the drug aripiprazole cannot have a significant effect on the marital instability in patients.

Sexual dysfunction in gastroenterological patients: Do gastroenterologists care enough? A nationwide survey from the Italian Society of Gastroenterology (SIGE)

BACKGROUND

Patients affected by gastrointestinal disorders often experience sexual dysfunction (SD). This creates stress and anxiety which impact on patients' and/or their partners' quality of life. A multidisciplinary approach to SD is often advisable in these patients. This survey assessed if gastroenterologists routinely discuss SD with their patients and the barriers toward discussing SD in clinical practice.

METHODS

A 29-item questionnaire was sent to members of the Italian Society of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy (SIGE). A descriptive analysis of responses was performed.

RESULTS

Out of 714 eligible gastroenterologists, 426 (59.7%), responded.The majority (>70%) never/infrequently investigated SD with their patients and, similarly, most patients never discussed SD during the visit. The most reported reasons were lack of knowledge (58%), time (44%), and embarrassment (30%). However, more than 70% of respondents indicated that all specialists should be able to manage sexual problems, and more than 80% declared that it would be useful for gastroenterologists to attend courses dedicated to the problem of SD.

CONCLUSION

Despite the high prevalence of SD, counselling was not routinely performed in gastroenterological care. Lack of education/knowledge appeared as the most important factor. Most of responders felt that attending a course on SD might increase the awareness of SD.

"We Are Not Truly Friendly Faces": Primary Health Care Doctors' Reflections on Sexual History Taking in North West Province

INTRODUCTION

Doctors experience barriers in consultations that compromise engaging with patients on sensitive topics and impede history taking for sexual dysfunction.

AIM

The aim of the study was to identify barriers to and facilitators of sexual history taking that primary care doctors experience during consultations involving patients with chronic illnesses.

METHODS

This qualitative study formed part of a grounded theory study and represents individual interviews with 20 primary care doctors working in the rural North West Province, South Africa. The doctors were interviewed on the barriers and facilitators of sexual history taking they experienced during 151 recorded consultations with patients at risk of sexual dysfunction. Interviews were transcribed and line-by-line verbatim coding was done. A thematic analysis was performed using MaxQDA 2018 software for qualitative research. The study complied with COREQ requirements.

OUTCOME

Doctors' reflections on sexual history taking.

RESULTS

Three themes identifying barriers to sexual history taking emerged, namely personal and health system limitations, presuppositions and assumptions, and socio-cultural barriers. The fourth theme that emerged was the patient-doctor relationship as a facilitator of sexual history taking. Doctors experienced personal limitations such as a lack of training and not thinking about taking a history for sexual dysfunction. Consultations were compromised by too many competing priorities and socio-cultural differences between doctors and patients. The doctors believed that the patients had to take the responsibility to initiate the discussion on sexual challenges. Competencies mentioned that could improve the patient-doctor relationship to promote sexual history taking, include rapport building and cultural sensitivity.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Doctors do not provide holistic patient care at primary health care settings if they do not screen for sexual dysfunction.

STRENGTH AND LIMITATIONS

The strength in this study is that recall bias was limited as interviews took place in a real-world setting, which was the context of clinical care. As this is a qualitative study, results will apply to primary care in rural settings in South Africa.

CONCLUSION

Doctors need a socio-cognitive paradigm shift in terms of knowledge and awareness of sexual dysfunction in patients with chronic illness. Pretorius D, Mlambo MG, Couper ID. "We Are Not Truly Friendly Faces": Primary Health Care Doctors' Reflections on Sexual History Taking in North West Province. Sex Med 2022;10:100565.