GPs' View on Barriers to Patients with Erectile Dysfunction: A Bulgarian Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Epidemiological studies show that erectile dysfunction (ED) is widespread worldwide and its prevalence tends to increase. ED influences quality of life, preceding or accompanying different diseases and it is a proven risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Different factors were found impeding patients to discuss the ED problem during the consultations.

The aim of the study is to identify GPs’ view on barriers to patients with ED.

A cross-sectional study, using questionnaire, was conducted among randomly selected GPs. For the statistical analysis descriptive statistics, chisquared test, Fisher’s exact test and SPSS 17.0 were used. The sample is nationally representative. Only 3% of all participants believe that patients share ED-related problems easily. The following most common barriers for the patients were identified by GPs: Inappropriate conditions – lack of privacy and lack of time in the doctor’s office (62.8%); embarrassment (60.2%), and the patient expects the erectile problem to be resolved spontaneously (55.0%). Physicians’ personal characteristics age, gender and education affect their perception for the role of the different factors.

Embarrassment remains among the leading barriers for the consultation about ED. At the same time there is a national specific barrier, connected with the organization of primary health care. Another important direction is education. Knowledge of the barriers is a prerequisite for their overcoming. Further researches are needed.