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Sexual Functioning and Patient-Reported Concerns After Stroke: An Integrated Mixed-Methods Study in Clinical
Alfredo Manuli1, Maria Grazia Maggio2, Andrea Calderone2
1Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.
Nursing Reports (Pavia, Italy)
|July 27, 2026
Summary
Sexual health screening after stroke is crucial for patient well-being and rehabilitation. Integrating patient interviews with validated questionnaires identified potential sexual dysfunction and concerns, guiding personalized care.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Sexual Health
Background:
- Sexual health is often overlooked in post-stroke care, impacting quality of life and recovery.
- Relevance to intimacy, identity, relationships, and overall rehabilitation is significant.
Purpose of the Study:
- To integrate sex-specific screening tools with narrative inquiry.
- To examine sexual functioning and patient-reported concerns in stroke survivors during clinical rehabilitation.
Main Methods:
- Convergent mixed-methods approach using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-6).
- Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a subset of participants.
- Quantitative and qualitative data were integrated using a participant-level joint display for meta-inferences.
Main Results:
- A high proportion of participants screened positive for potential sexual dysfunction (9/10 FSFI, 9/16 IIEF-6).
- Qualitative narratives revealed diverse concerns including fear, reduced desire, and relationship changes.
- Screening and narratives showed both convergence and divergence, indicating that distress can occur independently of screening thresholds.
Conclusions:
- Responsive sexual rehabilitation requires a combination of confidential screening and narrative inquiry.
- Patient-led, individualized support, appropriate referrals, and reassessment are essential components.
- Findings are preliminary and hypothesis-generating, not validating specific interventions.