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Communication about erectile dysfunction among men with ED, partners of men with ED, and physicians: The Strike Up a Conversation Study (Part I)

2005; Elsevier BV; Volume: 2; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.jmhg.2005.01.018

1873-4804

William A. Fisher, Siegfried Meryn, Michael Sand, Ulrike Brandenburg, J. Buvat, Juan Manuel Mendive, Sandra Scott, Ann Tailor, Luiz Otávio Torres,

Hormonal and reproductive studies

Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common, consequential, and clinically neglected sexual problem. The current research is designed to study the experience of communication about ED among men with ED, partners of men with ED, and physicians who treat ED. Methods: Qualitative research with 10 men with ED, 10 female partners of men with ED, and 15 physicians who treat men with ED, was used to formulate questions pursued in quantitative research with larger samples of men with ED (N = 449), partners of men with ED (N = 429), and physicians who treat men with ED (N = 389), concerning communication about ED among these parties. Results: Men with ED and partners of men with ED reported strikingly similar perceptions of ED, positive responses to communicating about ED, and negative responses to failing to communicate about ED. Results concerning communication about ED with physicians, preferred attributes of oral therapy for ED, and correlates of PDE5 inhibitor therapy use are reported in Part II of this publication. Conclusions: These findings can be used to guide clinical counselling and patient education to facilitate communication about ED and treatment seeking for this condition where appropriate.