Abstract
Objective
To understand the meanings attributed by older adult with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) using the Long-Term Home Oxygen Therapy (LTOT) regarding romantic relationships and sexual practice.
Method
Qualitative study in which seven semi-structured interviews were carried out with patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COPD and using LTOT, treated in an outpatient service. The content analysis technique was applied with the support of the WebQDA2.0 software license. COREQ criteria were used to report method and outcome.
Results
Two categories emerged: 1- Destabilization in the romantic relationship and in the sexual life of the LTOT user: : revealed that therapy causes relationship breakup, change of partner after prescription of the LTOT or even the idea of looking for an extramarital person; 2- Experience and meanings of COPD and oxygen therapy during sexual intercourse: suffering with physiological problems, how much the patient feels short of breath to have sexual intercourse and the impact of this on performance and frequency, reducing these moments with the partner.
Conclusion
The perception of elderly people with COPD using LTOT indicates that oxygen therapy had an impact on sexual practice and romantic relationships. Having good quality in relationships and sexual practice is a fundamental condition for health promotion.
Keywords
Qualitative Research; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; Aged; COPD; Sexuality
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