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Effectiveness of Sexual Counseling Using PLISSIT Model to Promote Sexual Function of Women with Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a PLISSIT model sexual counseling to promote sexual function of women with spinal cord injury. In this randomized clinical trial the participants included a total number of 44 women with spinal cord injury randomly assigned to intervention and control groups using random blocking. The intervention group received the PLISSIT sexual counseling in three sessions weekly, and the control group received the routine consultation of the center. Female Sexual Functions of participants were assessed using women’s Sexual Function Index questionnaires at three times. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the sexual function at different times. The results of the data analysis showed that the mean score of sexual function of the intervention group was significantly increased from the baseline (15.99 ± 8.48) compared with 4 weeks after intervention (21.57 ± 5.58) and 8 weeks after that (21.75 ± 4.3) (p = 0.000). The mean score of all domains of sexual function including; sexual desire (p = 0.000), arousal (p = 0.000), lubrication (p = 0.003), orgasm (p = 0.001), sexual satisfaction (p = 0.000) and pain (p = 0.048) of the participants of intervention group was increased significantly. Sexual counseling using PLISSIT model is effective in improving sexual function of women with spinal cord injury, and could be used to promote the sexual health of these women.

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Acknowledgements

This study was a partial fulfillment of Master degree in Counseling in Midwifery. The authors would like to appreciate all the participants in this research as well as Ms. Nora Aghajani and Dr. Zahra Salmani the staff of Cerebrospinal Injury Research Center in the Neuroscience Institution at Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

Funding

This work was supported by Alborz University of Medical Science.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Student Research Committee, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

    Mona Rezaei-Fard

  2. Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

    Razieh Lotfi & Mitra Rahimzadeh

  3. Spinal Cord Injury Research Center (BASIR), Neuroscience Institution, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Effat Merghati-Khoei

  4. Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

    Razieh Lotfi

Authors
  1. Mona Rezaei-Fard
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  2. Razieh Lotfi
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  3. Mitra Rahimzadeh
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  4. Effat Merghati-Khoei
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Correspondence to Razieh Lotfi.

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Rezaei-Fard, M., Lotfi, R., Rahimzadeh, M. et al. Effectiveness of Sexual Counseling Using PLISSIT Model to Promote Sexual Function of Women with Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Sex Disabil 37, 511–519 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-019-09596-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-019-09596-1

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