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The Predictive Role of Health Literacy in the Sexual Dysfunction of Women with Coronary Artery Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

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Abstract

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the most common chronic diseases whose complications harm sexual functioning. Given the importance of sexual functioning and the effects of CAD on it, it is important to identify the factors that can affect sexual functioning. This study aimed to determine the predictive role of health literacy in the sexual functioning of women with CAD. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 on 385 women with CAD who visited comprehensive health centers and doctors’ offices in Bushehr Province (Iran) and were selected via convenience sampling. The data were collected using a demographic information form, The Adults Functional Health Literacy questionnaire, and the Female Sexual Function Index. The data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression at the significance level of < 0.05. The mean age of the participants was 52.19 ± 12.15. The mean health literacy score was 72.25 + 24.18. The mean sexual function score was 17.75 + 8.80. Thirty-five percent of the participants had severe or moderate sexual dysfunction. The results showed that high health literacy reduces the risk of overall sexual dysfunction (p = 0.006). The results showed that high health literacy reduces the risk of overall sexual dysfunction and most of its domains. Healthcare and health education specialists should improve the health literacy of women with CAD by using simple and understandable training. It is necessary to conduct prospective studies to determine the causal relationship between the studied variables and confirm the results of the present study.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge all the officials and staff of comprehensive healthcare centers in Bushehr, internists and cardiologists in Bushehr Province, and the patients who participated in this study.

Funding

This work was supported by Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran [Grant number: DP/20/71/99-1-23]. Author Tayebeh Gharibi has received research support from Bushehr university of medical sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran

    Hakimeh Vahedparast

  2. Student Research Committee, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran

    Parvin Zandi Rad

  3. Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, 7518759577, Iran

    Razieh Bagherzadeh & Tayebeh Gharibi

Authors
  1. Hakimeh Vahedparast
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  2. Parvin Zandi Rad
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  3. Razieh Bagherzadeh
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  4. Tayebeh Gharibi
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Contributions

TG, HV and RB contributed substantially to the conception and designed of the study. PZR contributed to the data collection. RB analyzed the data. TG and PZR wrote the manuscript. HV prepared final version of manuscript. All authors approved the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tayebeh Gharibi.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Ethics Approval

This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. This study was reviewed and approved by Ethics Committee of Bushehr University of Medical Sciences with reference no. IR.BPUMS.REC.1399079. The participants were explained that their participation would be voluntary and only the research team would have access to the data to maintain the confidentiality of information and the results would be published anonymously.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Vahedparast, H., Zandi Rad, P., Bagherzadeh, R. et al. The Predictive Role of Health Literacy in the Sexual Dysfunction of Women with Coronary Artery Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study. Sex Disabil 42, 35–51 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-023-09819-6

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