title: Sex after stroke: a content analysis of printable educational materials available online.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Providing written educational materials to stroke survivors is a key recommendation in many international stroke guidelines. Yet, sexual concerns are generally overlooked in current stroke rehabilitation and the content of educational materials on sexual concerns has not been analyzed nor evaluated in published stroke research.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to identify, describe, and analyze printable educational materials on sexual concerns that are available online and easily shared with stroke survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Google search engine was used to locate printable educational materials from the Internet using a search term strategy of 35 phrases that were piloted for accuracy. The content of eligible materials was analyzed using NVivo software to produce both enumerative and thematic data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine educational materials from reputable organizations were included with an average length of seven pages and 1445 words (total 61 pages, 13 000 words). The content of the materials was similar and covered three main content areas: problems experienced after stroke: 30% coverage suggested solutions: 32% coverage, and reassurance: 9% coverage. Content describing potential problems reflected published research, but solutions and reassurance were general, nonspecific, and often not supported by evidence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Educational materials on sex after stroke may be helpful for health professionals, stroke survivors, and their partners, yet some messages appear to discourage recovery. Educators, health professionals, and organizations can use this analysis to evaluate their own educational resources and create resources that better address the sexual concerns of stroke survivors and their partners.
authors.affiliation: Family Planning Victoria, Australia; Discipline of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hamam
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McCluskey
authors.forename: Spring
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cooper Robbins
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009862:Online Systems; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*