The effectiveness of the Permission, Limited Information, Specific suggestions, Intensive Therapy (PLISITT) model based sexual counselling on the sexual function of women with Multiple Sclerosis who are sexually active

Abstract Objective This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of sexual counseling based on the Permission, Limited Information, Specific Suggestion, Intensive Therapy (PLISSIT) model on the Sexual Dysfunction (SD) of married sexually active women who suffer from Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This is the first sexual intervention applied by a midwife as a health professional on MS patients in Iran where the cultural and religious limitations are important challenging issues. Study design This randomized clinical trial was carried out in Iranian Community of Support for MS Patients in Tehran, Iran. The participating women who had a definite diagnosis of MS and SD, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores < 7, and aged 18-55 years were randomly assigned to experimental (EG, n=43) and control group (CG, n=45). Participants in the EG group received 4 weekly sexual counseling sessions based on the PLISSIT model (90-120 minutes per session). Main outcome measures Sexual function was assessed three times (before the intervention, and 2 months and 3 months after the intervention) using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, and Repeated Measures ANOVA were employed to analyze the data. Results The mean total FSFI score of the women in EG improved at 2 and 3 months after the intervention when it was compared with the FSFI score before the intervention (p