Holistic Wellbeing in COPD: Communication About Sexuality (COSY)

Holistic Wellbeing in COPD: The Communication About Sexuality (COSY) Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a communication intervention about sexuality on quality of life and other outcomes like physical activity, exercise capacity and health status in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Human sexuality is a universal part of living and associated with quality of life and mental and physical health benefits. Improved sexual relationships and sexual activity might also be an intrinsic motivator to stay physically active. However, problems with sexuality and loss of sexual drive are common in older and chronically ill people like persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In persons with COPD sexuality is rarely addressed during medical consultations and the topic is not sufficiently researched despite the fact that a thorough assessment of quality of life is incomplete without considering sexuality.

Based on this background, the investigators developed an instrument that supports healthcare professionals to start and shape communication about sexuality: COSY. The COSY intervention consists of four tools (communication leaflet for health care professionals, application guidance, pictorial representation of the spectrum of intimacy for health care professionals, patient information booklet) and aims to sensitize persons with COPD with the topic sexuality.

The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of the COSY communication intervention on quality of life and other outcomes like physical activity, exercise capacity and health status in people with COPD.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥60 years
• Diagnosis of COPD, defined as forced expiratory volume in 1s/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC)<70% predicted, FEV1<80 % predicted after bronchodilation corresponding to a Global initiative on Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage II-IV
• Knowledge of German language to understand study material and assessments and being able to give informed consent as documented by signature

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unstable COPD at the time of recruitment, unstable cardiovascular comorbidities, severe depression, or predicted life expectancy of less than one year, as judged by the referring clinician or the intervention physician