Sexuality and assessment of physical and psychological symptoms of older adults in outpatient care

Silva, Natalia Coelho Marques da; Storti, Luana Baldin; Lima, Gabriella Santos; Reis, Renata Karina; Araújo, Thaís França de; Kusumota, Luciana

doi:10.1590/0034-7167-2020-0998

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Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem

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Sumário

ORIGINAL ARTICLE • Rev. Bras. Enferm. 74 (suppl 2) • 2021 • https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2020-0998 copy

Sexuality and assessment of physical and psychological symptoms of older adults in outpatient care

Sexualidad y valoración de la sintomatología física y psicológica del anciano en consulta externa

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

Objective:

to analyze the relationship between affective and sexual experiences and the intensity of physical and psychological symptoms of older adults.

Methods:

observational, cross-sectional and analytical study, guided by the STROBE tool, carried out in a geriatric outpatient clinic. Sociodemographic and health questionnaire, Affective and Sexual Experiences Scale for Elderly, Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale were used. Descriptive statistical analysis and Spearman correlation were performed.

Results:

forty-five older adults participated, with a mean age of 73.8 years; most (91.1%) were married. The highest averages of symptom intensity were pain (4.9), anxiety (4.8), drowsiness (4.5), and a feeling of well-being (4.5). There was a negative correlation between sadness and the dimensions of sexual activity and affective relationships (r_s=-0.365; p=0.014 and r_s=-0.386; p=0.009) and between anxiety and sexual activity (r_s=-0.308; p=0.040).

Conclusion:

as sadness increases, affective and sexual experiences are less. The greater the anxiety intensity, the lower the sexual experiences.

Descriptors:
Sexuality; Symptom Assessment; Aged; Ambulatory Care; Geriatric Nursing

Variables	n	%
Sex
Male	21	46.7
Female	24	53.3
Marital status
Married	41	91.1
Single	1	2.2
Divorced	1	2.2
Widowed	1	2.2
Living together	1	2.2
Living with
Alone	2	4.4
Spouse and child (ren)	7	15.6
Only with companion	31	68.9
Others^* * Others (lives with: partner and grandchildren; partner, children, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and grandchildren; partner and brothers; partner, children and mother-in-law).	5	11.1
Total	45	100.0

Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale symptoms	Mean (SD^* * SD=standard deviation. )
Pain	4.9 (3.4)	10
Anxiety	4.8 (3.8)	10
Drowsiness	4.5 (3.2)	10
Feeling of well-being	4.5 (3.5)	10
Tiredness	4.4 (3.1)	9
Sleepiness	4.2 (3.6)	10
Sadness	3.8 (3.9)	10
Appetite	3.8 (3.5)	10
Shortness of breath	2.3 (3.4)	10
Nausea	1.6 (2.7)	10

Affective and Sexual Experiences Scale for Elderly dimensions	Mean (SD*)	Amplitude (minimum - maximum)
Affective relationships	3.1 (0.8)	0.9	4.0
Sexual activity	2.3 (0.1)	0.2	3.9
Physical and social adversities	1.7 (1.2)	0.0	4.0

Variables	Affective and Sexual Experiences Scale for Elderly dimensions
Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale symptoms	Sexual activity		Affective relationships		Physical and social adversity
Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale symptoms	r_s^* * rs= Spearman's correlation coefficient.	p value	r_s^* * rs= Spearman's correlation coefficient.	p value	r_s^* * rs= Spearman's correlation coefficient.	p value
Pain	0.091	0.551	0.127	0.406	0.187	0.220
Tiredness	-0.075	0.625	0.007	0.966	0.180	0.237
Nausea	-0.157	0.303	- 0.130	0.394	0.148	0.332
Sadness	-0.365	0.014^ statistically significant correlation (p value ≤ 0.05).	- 0.386	0.009^ statistically significant correlation (p value ≤ 0.05).	0.017	0.914
Anxiety	-0.308	0.040^ statistically significant correlation (p value ≤ 0.05).	- 0.222	0.143	-0.063	0.683
Drowsiness	-0.022	0.884	0.005	0.972	0.064	0.674
Appetite	0.016	0.919	-0.066	0.669	0.202	0.184
Feeling of well-being	-0.217	0.152	-0.250	0.097	0.182	0.231
Shortness of breath	-0.129	0.399	-0.150	0.327	0.372	0.012^ statistically significant correlation (p value ≤ 0.05).
Sleepiness	-0.053	0.728	-0.248	0.100	0.001	0.997

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[1] Corresponding author: Natalia Coelho Marques da Silva. E-mail: nacoelhoms@gmail.com