• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.24-32
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was done to identify psychosocial factors that might be predictive of sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain in women with gynecologic cancer. Methods: Two hundred and twelve women with cervical, ovarian, or endometrial cancer completed questionnaires on the Female Sexual Function Index including sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain, and data on their psychosocial factors including body image, sexual attitude, sexual information, depression, and marital intimacy. Stepwise multivariable regression analysis was performed to explore psychosocial predictors of women’s sexual function domains. Results: Predictors were identified as sexual attitude, depression, sexual information, and body image for sexual desire; sexual information, depression, and sexual attitude for sexual arousal; sexual information, marital intimacy, and depression for lubrication; sexual information, marital intimacy, depression, and body image for orgasm; marital intimacy, sexual information, sexual attitude, and depression for satisfaction; sexual information, depression, and marital intimacy for pain. Conclusion: The results indicate that women’s sexual function needs to be approached to domains of female sexual function psychosocially as well as to general sexual function. These factors should be considered in future interventions to positively promote sexual function in women with gynecologic cancer.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.163-175
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was performed to identify the relationship among sexual desire, other domains of sexual function and quality of life (QOL) and to describe the effect of sexual desire on sexual function and QOL in married women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). Methods: A total of 397 women with HSDD participated in this study. Data were collected through self-reported questionnaire which were constructed to include general characteristics items, Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and QOL tool. Data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN20 for descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Duncan, partial correlation coefficients, and Hierarchial multiple regression. Results: There were significant correlations with sexual desire and other domains of sexual function. And also, sexual desire had a positive correlations with the psychological status and total QOL. The sexual desire was statistically significant predictors for sexual function and QOL. Conclusions: Health professionals should direct efforts toward developing sexual health-related counseling or education programs for women suffering from sexual dysfunction with the goal of helping them to achieve satisfying sex lives and improved quality of life.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.639-648
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was designed to construct and test a structural equation model on sexual function in women with gynecologic cancer. Methods: The model was constructed and tested under the hypotheses that women's physical changes in sexual function after gynecologic cancer treatment did not automatically lead to sexual dysfunctions. Women's psychosocial factors were considered to be mediating variables. Two hundred twelve women with cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancer were recruited and asked to complete a survey on their physical factors, psychosocial factors and sexual function. Data was analyzed using SPSS WIN 12.0 and Amos WIN 5.0. Results: Predictors of sexual function in the final model were sexual attitude affected by physical distress and couple's age, sexual information affected by physical distress and couple's age, depression affected by physical distress, and marital intimacy affected by physical distress. Tumor stage and time since last treatment directly affected women's sexual function without any mediating psychosocial variables. However, body image did not affect women's sexual function. Conclusion: Nursing professionals should develop a tailored educational program integrating both physical and psychosocial aspects, and apply it to women and their spouses in order to promote sexual function in women with gynecologic cancer.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.156-165
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was to identify predictors of sexual function in gynecologic cancer patients. Methods: The participants were 154 patients treated at a university medical center in A city, Korea. The data collection was performed through a structured questionnaire from July to December, 2010. The instruments used in this study were Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) perceived health status scale, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, body image, and depression. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-Wallis test and stepwise multiple regression with the SPSS 18.0. Results: The mean score of perceived health status was 8.42 and sexual function was 8.42. The lowest score among sexual function was lubrication. The scores of sexual function was significantly different by age, job, marital status, period after diagnosis of cancer and diagnosis. There were significant correlations between sexual function, perceived health status, ECOG performance, body image and depression. In multiple regression analysis, predictors were identified as ECOG performance, age, diagnosis and period after diagnosis of cancer (Adj.$R^2$=.28). The most powerful predictor of female sexual function was ECOG performance (19.0%). Conclusion: The above findings indicate that it is necessary to develop a more effective and personalized sexual function improvement program for gynecologic cancer patient.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.393-401
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among sexual function, sexual stress, and quality of life in middle aged women patients with diabetes mellitus. Methods: Data were collected through questionnaires distributed to 154 middle aged women patient with diabetes mellitus in one hospital. Results: The mean sexual function score was $12.99{\pm}9.11$. There were statistically significant differences in sexual function according to age, level of education, employment status, time of being diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, number of complications, self-monitoring of blood glucose, menopausal status, and level of glycosylated hemoglobin. The mean sexual stress score was $26.99{\pm}16.88$. The score of quality of life was $79.12{\pm}14.30$. There were statistically significant differences in quality of life according to level of education. Sexual function was negatively correlated with sexual stress (r=-.46 p<.001) and positively correlated with quality of life (r=.32, p<.001), while sexual stress was negatively correlated with quality of life (r=-.36 p<.001). Conclusion: Higher sexual dysfunction in middle aged women patients with diabetes mellitus was correlated with lower sexual stress and improved quality of life, while lower sexual stress was correlated with improved quality of life.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine effects of a sexual function improvement program on sexual distress, sexual satisfaction and marital intimacy among breast cancer survivors. Methods: With quasi-experimental design, a total of 54 women after breast surgery were assigned into experimental group (n=28) and control group (n=26) after recruited via convenience sampling. They were endocrine surgery outpatients in university hospital at Chonnam province. Experimental group received a sexual function improvement program 5 sessions over 5 weeks. Sexual distress, sexual satisfaction, and marital intimacy were examined with self-report structured questionaries. Data were analyzed using $x^2$ test, Fisher's exact, independent t-test, and analysis of covariance with SPSS 17.0/window program. Results: Women who participated in the sexual function improvement program had lower sexual distress (F=27.29, p<.001), higher sexual satisfaction (t=3.09, p=.003) higher marital intimacy (F=17.51, p<.001) than the women who did not participate. Conclusion: Results suggest that a sexual function improvement program can be effective strategy to improve sexual distress, sexual satisfaction and marital intimacy. Therefore, this program can be regarded as useful nursing intervention program for breast cancer survivors.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.287-296
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• 2016

Purpose: This study identified the level of marital intimacy, menopausal symptom and sexual function, and examined factors affecting sexual function in postmenopausal married women. Methods: With cross-sectional survey, a sample of 245 subjects aged 45 to 60 years was recruited from January to March, 2014. Data were collected using self-reported questionnaires which included marital intimacy questionnaire (MIQ), menopause rating scale (MRS), and female sexual function index (FSFI). Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression. Results: Marital intimacy, menopausal symptom and sexual function scores of subjects were $3.46{\pm}1.14$, $13.71{\pm}6.61$, and $12.55{\pm}8.33$, respectively. Marital intimacy and menopausal symptom were related to sexual function. Variables including marital intimacy, psychosocial and urogenital menopausal symptom, period since menopause and body mass index therapy explained 51.5% in sexual function of participants. Conclusion: When nurses plan sexual counseling and education for sexual function of postmenopausal married women, it is necessary to consider marital intimacy, menopausal symptoms, and menopause-related factors.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.66-73
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• 2013

Sexual behavior is crucial in life, yet comparatively little is known about the mechanisms in the sexual response in humans. A lot of theories and models have been developed to explain about the process of the sexual response in humans. The first model of sexual function was described by Masters and Johnson, defined the four-phase model (phases of excitation, plateau, orgasm and resolution). Helen Kaplan proposed a slightly different model of human sexual response by adding the conception of the desire phase. Some years later, a new model of circular sexual response pattern was described by Whipple and Brash-McGreer, who acknowledged the cyclic nature of women's sexual response. Basson presented an alternative model of women's normative sexual function, which featured a responsive form of desire in women's sexual response. Bancroft developed a new theoretical model, the Dual Control Model, which postulates sexual response and arousal is ultimately determined by the balance between the sexual activation or excitation system and the sexual inhibition system. The Sexual Tipping Point is a model created by Perelman, suggesting that a sexual response is determined by a balance between excitatory or inhibitory factors that may be psychological, organic, psychosocial, or cultural. A comprehensive understanding of sexual response and function is of paramount importance for the psychiatrist to study sex, offer counseling to the patient on sex, and practice sex therapy. In this literature, models of sexual response would be reviewed to understand the knowledge of the sexual functioning in humans.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.290-302
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify sexual activities of males with spinal cord injury (SCI) and influential factors of sexual adjustment. Methods: A correlational survey was conducted among a total of 135 males with SCI. Results: After SCI, patients maintained low levels of sexual adjustment, and a main obstacle of sexual rehabilitation was decreased erectile function (65.2%). Sexual desires recovered in 84.4%, with 62.4% patients reporting more than once intercourse experiences. The erectile function of participants with normal, decreased or no erectile function were 13.0%, 62.6% and 24.4%, respectively. 8.1% of the participants reported no problem with ejaculation. Patients with incomplete SCI had better preserved erectile function than those with complete SCI (t=-4.627, p<.001). Patients with upper motor neuron injury had better preserved erectile function than those with lower motor neuron injury (t=2.446, p =.016). Sexual adjustment was relevant to age, job, degree of injury, post-injury period, sexual desire, intercourse experience, erection therapy, erectile function, and sexual health. Sexual adjustment was a factor of sexual health with a power of 24.2%. Conclusion: The main obstacle of sexual rehabilitation for males with SCI decreased erectile function. Erection and ejaculation are dependent on the severity and level of SCI. The major influence on sexual adjustment is sexual health.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.108-118
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• 2013

Purpose: Sexual function involves a complex interaction of emotions, body image, and intact physical responses. The purpose of this study was to determine the sexual functioning of women who are incontinent and to identify associated factors. Methods: For this descriptive correlation study, data were collected from 147 women with urinary incontinence. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, and stepwise multiple regression. Results: Mean scores were 22.39 (sexual dysfunction ${\leq}26.55$) for sexual function, 13.38 (of 63) for depression, and 55.47 (range of score 17~85) for body image. Urinary symptoms and daily life symptoms averaged 36.04 (range of score 20~100) and 16.03 (range of score 8~40). Sexual function had a positive correlation with body image and negative correlation with daily life symptoms. Sexual satisfaction, daily life symptoms, marital satisfaction, and frequency of sexual intercourse were factors affecting sexual function. Conclusion: Study results indicate that urinary incontinence has a negative impact on various aspects of sexual function. Nurses should be aware of the wider consideration that needs to be made in relation to general and sexual quality of life when caring for clients suffering from urological diseases.