Couple Counseling Intervention based on the BETTER Model on the Sexual Health of Women with Diabetes

Background and Objective: Today, the high percentage of women of reproductive age with diabetes is considered one of the important problems for policymakers, so the aim of this study was to investigate the couple counseling intervention based on the BETTER model on the sexual health of women with type ۱ diabetes. Materials and Methods: The present study was a quasi-experimental study with pre-test-post-test and ۳-month follow-up. The statistical population of the study consisted of all married women with type ۱ diabetes in Hamedan city who have a file with the Diabetes Association. Of these, ۴۰ people were randomly divided into ۲ experimental and control groups using convenience sampling and answered the Halbert Women's Sexual Performance Index, Fatigue Severity, Sexual Desire, and Sexual Fulfillment Questionnaire as a pre-test-post-test and ۳ months after the intervention. The intervention group received ۴ sessions of training for a minimum of ۴۵ and a maximum of ۹۰ minutes according to the BETTER model, and the control group did not receive training during this period. The analyses were performed considering Intention to treat and a significance level of P<۰.۰۵ and using SPSS version ۲۵. Results: The results showed that couples counseling based on the BETTER model was effective on sexual health, sexual fatigue, sexual desire, sexual fulfillment, and failure in sexual relationships, and this effect remained effective for ۳ months after the intervention. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, the couple counseling model based on the BETTER model has been effective in significantly increasing the sexual function of these women. Considering the low quality of life of these individuals, it is also suggested that this training be used in diabetes support groups, and in addition to the interventions of the present study, psychosocial and multidisciplinary interventions should be given more attention in a larger sample size.

کلیدواژه ها:

BETTER ، Sexual Health ، Chronic Disease ، Diabetes