The effect of self-care levels on erectile dysfunction in Turkish men with heart disease

For many years there has been evidence of an association between heart disease and erectile dysfunction (ED). This is a health problem that affects patients both physically and psychologically. Individuals affected by coronary heart disease need a comprehensive care approach to achieve optimal health outcomes. However, there is a gap in nursing research on the sexual life of men with coronary artery disease. This descriptive research will identify the prevalence of self-care and ED in Turkish men having coronary heart disease and examine potential interactions between them. This descriptive study conducted between March 2022 and March 2023 with 178 men aged 18–70 years who were followed up in the cardiology polyclinic of a hospital with a diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Data collected via face-to-face meetings using a Socio-Demographic Questionnaire Form, Coronary Heart Disease Self-Care Inventory and International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire. Ethical approval was obtained before starting research. The Declaration of Helsinki was complied with during the research period. Of the participating patients, 52.2% were older than 65 years and 37.6% had high school education or higher. A significant proportion of patients (42.1%) had been married for 20–29 years. The majority of the participants (59%) were still working and 88.8% reported that their income was equal to their expenses. The mean scores of the scales were found to be moderate and when the correlation between the scales was examined, a moderate positive correlation was found (p < 0.05). A regression was performed to determine the causal relationship linking self-care scores and ED. The results yielded significant findings (F = 46.854; p < 0.05). The change in the level of ED was found to be explained by self-care at a rate of 43.7% (R² = 0.437). This study showed that ED levels decreased with improving self-care levels in men with coronary heart disease. While counselling these patients, health professionals should aim to increase their self-care competencies related to cardiac rehabilitation and decrease their ED levels by considering the characteristics of the patients.