Physical Activity to Improve Erectile Function:A Systematic Review of Intervention Studies

Abstract Introduction The leading cause of erectile dysfunction (ED) is arterial dysfunction, with cardiovascular disease as the most common comorbidity. Therefore, ED is typically linked to a web of closely interrelated cardiovascular risk factors such as physical inactivity, obesity, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome. Physical activity (PA) has proved to be a protective factor against erectile problems, and it has been shown to improve erectile function for men affected by vascular ED. This systematic review estimated the levels of PA needed to decrease ED for men with physical inactivity, obesity, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and/or manifest cardiovascular diseases. Aim To provide recommendations of levels of PA needed to decrease ED for men with physical inactivity, obesity, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and/or cardiovascular diseases. Methods In accord with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a systematic review was performed of research articles specifically investigating PA as a possible treatment of ED. The review included research on ED from physical inactivity, obesity, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and/or cardiovascular diseases. All available studies from 2006 through 2016 were checked for the predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria to analyze the levels of PA needed to decrease ED. Results 10 articles met the inclusion criteria, all suggesting various levels of PA needed to decrease ED for men with relevant risk factors for ED. The results of the review provided sufficient research evidence for conclusions regarding the levels of PA necessary to decrease ED. Conclusion Recommendations of PA to decrease ED should include supervised training consisting of 40 minutes of aerobic exercise of moderate to vigorous intensity 4 times per week. Overall, weekly exercise of 160 minutes for 6 months contributes to decreasing erectile problems in men with ED caused by physical inactivity, obesity, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and/or cardiovascular diseases. </jats:sec

Communication about physical activity to reduce vascular erectile dysfunction – A qualitative interview study among men in cardiac rehabilitation

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creat ive Commo ns Attri butio n- NonCo mmerc ial- NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non- commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Nordic College of Caring ScienceBackground Physical activity, a core intervention in cardiac rehabilitation, can reduce vascular erectile dysfunction (ED). ED is a common sensitive problem for men with cardiac diseases, decreasing their quality of life. Cardiac health professionals rarely provide information about ED or its relation to physical activity. Developing health professionals’ communicative component of the complex intervention ‘Physical Activity to reduce Vascular Erectile Dysfunction’ (PAVED) is important. Understanding the receiver needs is essential in designing a complex intervention. Aim To elucidate men's perspectives on cardiac health professionals’ communication about PAVED. Ethical issues An Institutional Data Protection Agency approved the study. Methods An interpretive data-driven thematic analysis was applied to individual, qualitative semi-structured interviews with 20 Danish men attending cardiac rehabilitation. Results The men wanted health professionals’ communicating about ED, as it was perceived as a major problem diminishing masculinity and tabooed by health professionals. Men wanted help for self-help, which may be possible with the aid of competent health professionals’ communication about how to prevent, reduce and cope with ED - including information about PAVED. The men wanted health professionals’ communication about ED in various contexts: general information in groups, sexual counselling for individuals and couples and written material. Study limitations Recruitment was done from a Danish municipality's cardiac rehabilitation, and the transferability of the results may be limited to similar contexts. Conclusion Erectile dysfunction was experienced as a major biopsychosocial problem for the men and their partners. The men had a need for health professionals’ communication about sexuality, ED and information about PAVED as well as about prevention, reduction and management of ED. The men had a need for professional communication about sexual health.publishedVersio

Danish Health Professional Students' Attitudes Toward Addressing Sexual Health:A Cross-Sectional Survey

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).Introduction Danish health professional (HP) students' attitudes toward addressing sexual health are unknown. Aim To investigate Danish HP students' attitudes toward addressing sexual health in their future professions, and to assess differences in perceived competences and preparedness between professional programs. Methods A Danish national survey of nursing, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy students was conducted. Totally, 1,212 students were invited to respond to an online questionnaire “The Students' Attitudes toward Addressing Sexual Health.” Main Outcome Measure The main outcome measures investigated were Danish HP students' attitudes toward addressing sexual health in their future professions, and differences in perceived competences and preparedness depending on the professional program. Results A total of 584 students (48%; nursing 44%, occupational therapy 70%, physiotherapy 43%) responded. Mean total score ranged between 63.7 and 66.3 (±8.3–8.8) classifying students in the low-end of the class: “comfortable and prepared in some situations.” No clinically relevant differences were determined between the professional programs with respect to perceived competences and preparedness to address sexual health. Conclusion In the field of addressing sexual health, most Danish HP students reported positive attitudes and a need for basic knowledge, competences, communication training, and education.publishedVersio

How defensive medicine is defined and understood in European medical literature:protocol for a systematic review

IntroductionThe term defensive medicine, referring to actions motivated primarily by litigious concerns, originates from the USA and has been used in medical research literature since the late 1960s. Differences in medical legal systems between the US and most European countries with no tort legislation raise the question whether the US definition of defensive medicine holds true in Europe.AimTo present the protocol of a systematic review investigating variations in definitions and understandings of the term ‘defensive medicine’ in European research articles.Methods and analysisIn concordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, a systematic review of all medical research literature that investigate defensive medicine will be performed by two independent reviewers. The databases PubMed, Embase and Cochrane will be systematically searched on the basis of predetermined criteria. Data from all included European studies will systematically be extracted including the studies’ definitions and understandings of defensive medicine, especially the motives for doing medical actions that the study regards as ‘defensive’.Ethics and disseminationNo ethics clearance is required as no primary data will be collected. The results of the systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed, international journal.PROSPERO registration numberThis review has been submitted to International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) and is awaiting registration

Mapping the existing knowledge of Intimacy and Sexuality in People Living with Dementia – Protocol of a Scoping Review

Abstract Objective: The objective of this scoping review protocol is to identify, present and map existing knowledge on how people with dementia experience and express intimacy and sexuality from the perspectives of people living with dementia and their informal caregivers. Introduction: Throughout life, intimacy and sexuality are central aspects of being human. There is a need to identify, present and map existing knowledge on how people with dementia experience and express intimacy and sexuality. Cognitive impairments may impede the capacity in people with dementia to experience and express intimacy, which may influence quality of life of people with dementia and their partners. Sexual needs of people with dementia are often overlooked by health care professionals. An overview of existing knowledge may inspire healthcare professionals with relevant knowledge regarding this complex phenomenon. Inclusion criteria: This scoping review will include studies from the perspectives of people with dementia and their informal caregivers. Qualitative studies, reviews, and mixed-methods studies published from January 2008 to 2023 regarding how intimacy and sexuality are experienced and expressed in people living with dementia will be included. Methods: The search will be conducted in Medical and Psychological databases such as MEDLINE (PubMed), and searches of gray literature will also be conducted databases such as Open AIRE. The search strategy will include the terms dementia, sexuality, intimacy, and related synonyms. The terms will be adapted for each of the included databases and/or information sources