Impact of Specific Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction on Quality of Life . A Survey Among Adirs Members Patients .
Benjamin, Alexandre1, Antoine, Lemaire*,1, 1 adirs, Lille cedex, France, France
ABSTRACT- Adirs is a french association whose aim is to inform public about sexuality and its different related problems and their treatments . Many surveys have been performed by the association. The last one was related to the acceptation of specific treatment for erectile dysfunction . 900 questionnaires have been sent to patients members of the association in mid november 2004 and within 6 weeks 300 questionnaires were received (answer rate: 30%) . Population : mean age of the respondents was 64 years . 68% lived in couple . 89% was heterosexual and 4 % homosexual .67% received a specific treatment for erectile dysfunction (56% oral treatment , 23% local treatment ). Results : 29% received a treatment for more than 1 year and 55 % for, more than 2 years . In 90% of the cases , it was the patient himself who decided to take a specific treatment and in 8% the partner asked the patient to be treated. Different satisfaction criteria have been proposed ; among them , it appeared that firmness of erection , on demand intake and easy use are the 3 most frequently described criteria . Delay of action and presence or not of secondary effects are not considered as important . Drug is systematically taken 2 hours before sexual attempts in 63% of the cases. In more than 2/3 of the cases , it is taken less than 1 hour before . Only 21% of the patients take the drug more than 2 hours before intercourse Benefits of treatment are a better sexuality in 78% , improvement of marital relationship in 72% , a privileged dialogue in 69% , restored self esteem in 68% . This survey confirms efficacy and tolerance of specific treatment of erectile dysfunction.. When compared to patients receiving intracavernous injections , these last ones described better improvement of sexuality than patients receiving oral treatment . Conclusion : this survey confirm the fact that most patients actually still take drug before sexual attempt despite different explanations they have :in 78% of the cases , the medical doctor give information and chemist in 18% of the cases . .
Key words: treatment, results, acceptance, selfesteem, dialogue