Factors associated with the quality of sexual life among patients under peritoneal dialysis and their spouses

Objective: This study aims to investigate the quality of sexual life for long-term peritoneal dialysis patients and their spouses. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-correlation study, convenience samples were obtained from two hospital-based dialysis centers in the northern Taiwan. A total of fifty-two peritoneal dialysis patients and their spouses finished and returned these questionnaires. Results: The results found that there was no difference between peritoneal dialysis patients and their spouses in quality of sexual life. For the patient group, those reporting a better quality of sexual life were characterized by more sexual knowledge, a serum albumin ≥ 4.0g/dL, and lake of use of the oral drug lipemia. The results of stepwise regression analysis found that the predictors for quality of sexual life among patients included serum albumin, the oral drug lipemia, sexual knowledge and fatigue. A total of 38.4% of the variance was accounted for by these variables. For the spouse group, those reporting a better quality of sexual life were characterized as male, younger, having been married for a shorter time, and having good communication with their spouse, the patient. The results of stepwise regression analysis found that the predictors for the quality of sexual life for spouses included gender, age, and depression. A total of 46.0% of the variance was accounted for by these variables. Conclusion: These results will help nurses to manage the sexual health care of both patients and their spouses and may lead to further studies in this area.