Impact of erectile dysfunction and its subsequent treatment with sildenafil: qualitative study

doi:10.1136/bmj.38044.662176.EE

BMJ 2004;328:1037 (1 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.38044.662176.EE (published 29 March 2004)

Paper

Impact of erectile dysfunction and its subsequent treatment with sildenafil: qualitative study

John Tomlinson, director¹, David Wright, Macmillan research fellow²

¹ Men's Health Clinic, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester SO22 5DG, ² Macmillan Research Unit, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ

Correspondence to: J Tomlinson john{at}jptomlinson.com Clays Farm, East Worldham, Alton GU34 3AD

Objectives To determine the effects of erectile dysfunctionand to explore the impact of treatment with sildenafil (Viagra).

Design An exploratory qualitative study with semistructuredinterviews.

Setting Men's health clinic in NHS hospital.

Participants 40 men who had had erectile dysfunction and hadattended the clinic during the year before interview.

Main outcome measures Impact of erectile dysfunction on men,their expectations of sildenafil, and impact of treatment onmen and their relationships. Issues explored with exploratoryqualitative approach.

Results Erectile dysfunction caused serious distress to allthose men who experienced it, with marked effects on their selfesteem and their relationships. Sildenafil, when it worked,caused a great improvement in wellbeing. The expectations raisedby media hyperbole with the launch of sildenafil had an adverseeffect on the morale of those who found it did not work. When,according to the patient, treatment did not work, the distresswas severe and for many confirmed their lack of self worth.

Conclusions Further study is needed to explore the feelingsof men affected by erectile dysfunction and their perceptionof treatment. Health professionals should be aware of the extremedistress erectile dysfunction can cause.

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