title: Sexual concerns among kidney transplant recipients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the specific sexual concerns of kidney transplant (KTx) recipients. The primary objectives of this study were to: (i) describe the importance of sexuality to KTx recipients; (ii) investigate the sexual concerns of KTx recipients; and (iii) examine the relationship between sexual concerns and quality of life (QOL). A secondary objective was to examine potential sexual concern differences by gender, pre-transplant dialysis status, and donor type.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study employed a cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational design. Sexual concerns were identified using the Sexual Concerns Questionnaire, which contains seven subscales. QOL was measured with the SF-8 and the QOL Uniscale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nearly 73% of subjects rated sexuality as important. Subscales indicating highest area of sexual concerns were communication with healthcare providers about sexuality (Mean (M) = 2.70) and sexual pleasure concerns (M = 2.45). Higher concern ratings regarding health consequences of sexual activity, quality of sexual relationship, sexual pleasure, sexual functioning problems, and pessimistic beliefs about treatment were significantly, inversely related to QOL. Women had significantly higher scores on the Sexual Pleasure and Communication with Healthcare Providers subscales than men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study reports the sexual concerns of KTx recipients' who are an average of four yr since surgery, and the relationship of these concerns to QOL.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Section of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Muehrer
authors.forename: Dorothy M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lanuza
authors.forename: Roger L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Arjang
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Djamali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D066027:Transplant Recipients / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: kidney transplant; quality of life; sexual concerns; sexual functioning; sexuality; transplant recipients