Cardiac Healthcare Providers’ Perspectives regarding Sexual Counseling Delivery: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Background: Sexual health and sexual quality of life are integral to a person’s physical and mental health as well as well-being. Nevertheless, there is a dearth of literature on how South Asian healthcare professionals perceive offering sexual health education and counseling to patients within the South Asian context, where discussion of sexuality is considered taboo. Purpose: The aim of this article was to explore healthcare professionals’ perspectives regarding approaches to enhance delivery of sexual counseling to cardiac patients. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted. Healthcare professionals were recruited using maximum variation sampling and interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide from June to September 2023. Reflexive thematic analysis was used for data analysis. Results: Analysis of the 11 interviews revealed three main themes: (a) gaps in patients’ sexual health knowledge and receipt of counseling, (b) need for health professional training to promote open discussion about sexual health with patients, and (c) activating organizational action to support the provision of sexual counseling. Conclusion: Structural and cultural barriers impede consistent implementation of sexual health assessment and counseling of cardiac patients, despite needs. Sexual health education of professionals across relevant disciplines, structural changes to support healthcare professionals in sexual counseling, provision of sexual health assessment checklists, tools, and practice guidelines, patient education, and providing written sexual health education material in local languages are potential strategies.