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French survey on the crossed needs on sexual health for chronic inflammatory rheumatism patients and healthcare professionals

  • Observational Research
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Abstract

Patients with Inflammatory Chronic Rheumatic disease have approximately three times more sexual dysfunction than the healthy population. However, health professionals do not dare to discuss the subject with them, largely because they do not feel educated on the subject. To define the educational needs in the sexual health of health professionals involved in patient education and those of patients with Inflammatory Chronic Rheumatic disease. This French multicenter cross-sectional online study included health professionals involved in patient education and patients with Inflammatory Chronic Rheumatic disease. Two surveys were designed to assess, both of them the specific needs. They were filled out anonymously online with a secured server. The influence of professionals and patients’ characteristics on their sexual health needs were tested. 57 health professionals and 239 patients answered. 71,6% of the patients reported sexual difficulties and 79,9% had never discussed them with health professionals. To facilitate discussion, the health professionals most often wanted a colleague specialized in sexual health in their team (59,7%) and access to tools (52,6%). The patients’ primary expectations were psychological support (65.7%), information (51.9%), and referral to specialists if needed (43.1%). The topics the health professionals and patients considered most useful were adverse effects of treatment and impact of rheumatism on sexuality and body image. 70,2% of the health professionals felt they needed training. This survey demonstrates the need to offer educational training to health professionals designed to enable them to address and discuss sexual health issues and give their patients appropriate advice.

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Acknowledgements

The French Rheumatology Society for its grant and all the people who responded to the survey

Funding

The study was supported by the French Rheumatology Society.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rheumatology Department, Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital, 58 rue Montalembert, BP 69, 63003, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Carine Savel, Martin Soubrier & Sandrine Malochet Guinamand

  2. Transversal Patient Education Unit, Department of Public Health, Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Marie Sophie Cherillat, Pauline Berland & Laurent Gerbaud

  3. Department of Public Health, Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Candy Guiguet-Auclair

  4. Department of Adult Psychiatry, Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Anne Marie Tronche

Authors
  1. Carine Savel
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  2. Marie Sophie Cherillat
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  4. Anne Marie Tronche
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  7. Candy Guiguet-Auclair
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  8. Sandrine Malochet Guinamand
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Contributions

CS, MSC, PB, CGA, AMT, SMG had substantial contribution to the design of the work; CGA and PB were involved in the acquisition, Analysis. CS, SMG, AMT, MS, LG, CGA, PB and MSC made the interpretation of data for the work; as well as drafting and critically revising the work for important intellectual content. LG and MS had final approval of the version to be published and MSC, CGA, SMG, CS, PB was in agreement. All authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carine Savel.

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None of the authors declare any conflicts of interest relevant to this work.

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Include appropriate statements): informed consent was obtained from all participants in the study.

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Savel, C., Cherillat, M.S., Berland, P. et al. French survey on the crossed needs on sexual health for chronic inflammatory rheumatism patients and healthcare professionals. Rheumatol Int 40, 1481–1491 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-020-04630-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-020-04630-4

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