Prism Ideas Ltd, Basel, Switzerland.
J Sex Med. 2010 Mar;7(3):1237-46. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01674.x. Epub 2010 Feb 2.
Men may choose to bypass the healthcare system to obtain a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5i).
Evaluate the characteristics and purchasing patterns of men obtaining a PDE5i without prior healthcare professional (HCP) interaction.
Prior HCP interaction, defined as having a prescription for any PDE5i, having a PDE5i sample from a physician, or buying the PDE5i in a retail pharmacy; and erectile dysfunction (ED, the Massachusetts Male Aging Study single-item question) were assessed. A multivariate regression analysis determined predictive factors for PDE5i purchase without prior HCP interaction. Methods. A Web-based observational study was conducted in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy.
Of the 11,899 participants, 1,252 (10.5% [95% CI, 10.0-11.1%]) reported PDE5i use in the last 6 months. PDE5is were obtained without prior HCP interaction by 403 users (32.3% [95% CI, 29.6-34.8%]); 65.5% of them had ED. Overall prevalence of men using PDE5is without HCP interaction was 3.0% (95% CI, 2.6-3.5%), 4.1% (95% CI, 3.5-4.6%), and 2.8% (95% CI, 2.1-3.5%) for men aged 18-34, 35-50, and >50 years, respectively (P = 0.0045). Predictive factors for obtaining a PDE5i without prior HCP interaction were embarrassment to speak to a physician (P = 0.0009) and the perception that this would be the cheapest way to get the medicine (P = 0.03).
Based on these findings, it can be estimated that approximately 6 million men in Europe might currently bypass the healthcare system to obtain a PDE5i. In addition to the risks associated with use of PDE5is from uncontrolled sources, because most of these men have ED, they also miss the opportunity for important health information or medical follow-up. HCPs should actively address ED and offer treatment to discourage men from seeking uncontrolled sources of ED medicines.
男性可能会选择绕过医疗保健系统来获取磷酸二酯酶 5 抑制剂 (PDE5i)。
评估男性在未与医疗保健专业人员 (HCP) 互动的情况下获得 PDE5i 的特征和购买模式。
先前的 HCP 互动，定义为有任何 PDE5i 的处方、有医生开具的 PDE5i 样本或在零售药店购买 PDE5i；以及勃起功能障碍 (ED，马萨诸塞州男性衰老研究单项问题)。使用多元回归分析确定了没有先前 HCP 互动的 PDE5i 购买的预测因素。方法：在英国、德国和意大利进行了一项基于网络的观察性研究。
在 11899 名参与者中，有 1252 名（10.5%[95%CI，10.0-11.1%]）报告在过去 6 个月内使用过 PDE5i。403 名使用者（32.3%[95%CI，29.6-34.8%]）在没有先前 HCP 互动的情况下获得了 PDE5i；其中 65.5%有 ED。在没有 HCP 互动的情况下使用 PDE5i 的男性总体患病率为 3.0%（95%CI，2.6-3.5%）、4.1%（95%CI，3.5-4.6%）和 2.8%（95%CI，2.1-3.5%），分别为 18-34 岁、35-50 岁和>50 岁的男性（P = 0.0045）。获得 PDE5i 而无需事先与 HCP 互动的预测因素是与医生交谈感到尴尬（P = 0.0009）和认为这将是获得药物的最便宜方式（P = 0.03）。
根据这些发现，可以估计目前欧洲大约有 600 万男性可能会绕过医疗保健系统来获取 PDE5i。除了使用不受控制来源的 PDE5i 相关的风险之外，由于这些男性大多数患有 ED，他们也错过了获得重要健康信息或医疗随访的机会。HCP 应积极治疗 ED 并提供治疗方法，以阻止男性寻求不受控制的 ED 药物来源。
