Interventions to Promote Sexual Function Among Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Systematic Review

Abstract

          Sexual dysfunction is a common problem after acute myocardial infarction. It often remains unaddressed at discharge and affects people’s quality of life. Therefore, it is important to promote sexual function in patients with myocardial infarction. The purpose of this systematic review was to review the knowledge on sexual function promotion interventions in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using the Joanna Briggs Institute Systematic Review Guideline. This review was based on studies retrieved from electronic databases, including PubMed, THAIJO, CINAHL, ProQuest, EBSCO, Wiley Online, Science Direct, and Cochrane Library, done between 2013-2023. The main terms “sexual function”, “promoting interventions”, and “acute myocardial infarction” were found in 310 studies. The retrieved studies were appraised and selected using the tools developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Six studies met the review inclusion criteria (4 RCTs and 2 quasi-experimental studies). The studies included in the review varied in terms of their intervention’s timing, methods, and evaluation outcomes, Therefore, the results were summarized in narrative form to describe the intervention characteristics and determine the intervention outcomes.
           The results of this systematic review revealed that:
          1. Four Interventions for promoting sexual function among AMI patients after PCI were found: 1) sex education; 2) counseling; 3) exercise to improve capacity, strength, and endurance of the pelvic floor; and 4) use of social media.
           2. Regarding intervention outcomes, the results showed that they improved 1) sexual health, including sexual function, sexual behavior, and resumption of sexual activity shortly after AMI; 2) physical health outcomes, including improvement of exercise capacity and enhanced strength and endurance of pelvic floor; and 3) emotional outcomes, including reduction of fear about intercourse, decreased anxiety, depression and stress, and improvement of sexual satisfaction.
           The results of this systematic review can guide clinical practice in promoting sexual function among AMI patients especially using combined interventions for each individual patient. Study of the interventions is recommended for further research.