The EPIFARM Study: An Observational Study in 574 Community Pharmacies in Spain Characterizing Patient Profiles of Men Asking for Erectile Dysfunction Medication

Abstract

Introduction Community pharmacists may be an important first point of contact for erectile dysfunction (ED) patients, but to date there are no reports of the characteristics of men approaching pharmacists for ED advice or treatment. Aim To characterize the profiles of men with and without phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5i) prescription asking for ED treatment at the pharmacy. Methods A multicenter, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted in Spanish community pharmacies September–November 2008. Of men asking for ED advice or treatment, each investigator recruited one with and one without PDE5i prescription. Study pharmacists completed a questionnaire of patient demographic, clinical, and behavioural data including the Sexual Health Inventory for Men. Main Outcome Measures Demographic characteristics and responses to questionnaires. Results Five hundred and seventy-four pharmacists recruited 1,147 patients; 1,113 were included for analysis. There were no statistical differences between the groups regarding weight, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, dyslipidemia, depression, or stress. There were no statistical differences in severity of ED (P = 0.7892) or proportion of men without ED in each group (P = 0.5755). ED symptoms had been present for a mean of 26 months in both groups before first consultation with a healthcare professional. The visit to the pharmacy was the first discussion about ED for 60.2% of the nonprescription group, and 50% of those who had previously discussed ED had done so with a pharmacist in the first instance. In the nonprescription group, 85.1% of men asked for a PDE5i. Conclusions Many men approached a community pharmacist for ED treatment and those with and without a PDE5i prescription had an equivalent ED severity and comorbidity profile. Community pharmacists should be trained in current concepts underlying the diagnosis and management of ED to enable them to educate men and encourage them to seek further medical care, increasing the chance of early detection of undiagnosed comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease.

Help-seeking behavior for erectile dysfunction: a clinic-based survey in China

“…Several questionnaires were reviewed from the published literature and modified according to the clinical practice of the authors. Patients completed another questionnaire about demographics and treating ED; both questionnaires were completed by the patients at the clinic 678…”

Is erectile dysfunction a reliable indicator of general health status in men?

“…Thus if a patient complains of severe ED, it is possible to infer that he might also have underlying comorbid conditions, and consequently that such men might need a more comprehensive medical assessment, irrespective of age [17–19] . Conversely, it will be possible to infer that patients with a significant burden of comorbid diseases can also have a severe form of ED [20] , deserving appropriate attention in terms of sexual health and quality of life (QoL).…”

Didactic Lecture Versus Interactive Workshop for Continuing Pharmacy Education on Reproductive Health

“…Pharmacists’ role in providing emergency contraception services has been investigated more extensively, as pharmacist-only or over-the-counter products are available in many countries (Anderson & Blenkinsopp, 2006). On the contrary, little evidence exists on pharmacists’ professional role in providing evidence-based care for sexual dysfunctions (Symonds et al, 2011), although patients frequently consult pharmacists about such issues (Martín Morales et al, 2010).…”