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Liu X, Luo Z. Communicating male sexual dysfunction: The medicalization and psychologization of sexual experiences in Chinese online medical consultations. Soc Sci Med 2024; 350:116927. [PMID: 38703467 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Previous research shows that men who experience erectile or sexual dysfunction may feel uncomfortable discussing their sexual experiences in face-to-face clinical encounters. Part of the reason is the stigma and embarrassment associated with discussing private sexual matters. This study examines how e-patients, or more precisely advice-seekers, and doctors communicate about sexual dysfunction in online medical consultations (OMCs). We conducted a Theme-Oriented Discourse Analysis of relevant OMCs on CH Doctor, a Chinese medical consultation website, to understand how individuals with perceived sexual dysfunction articulate their conditions and how doctors on the platform respond and provide recommendations to these individuals. Our analysis reveals that OMCs afford advice-seekers a place to openly discuss their sexual health issues and gain empowerment from doctors who assist in mitigating the associated social stigma. Upon detailed discourse analysis, however, we find that individuals seeking advice often interpret their sexual experiences as symptoms of illness that requires medical intervention. In response, doctors tend to validate these advice-seekers' preliminary self-diagnoses by treating their conditions as medical issues and characterizing them as psychosocial problems caused by stress and anxiety. Aligning with a critical sociological perspective that views sexual dysfunction as socially constructed problems referenced against dominant norms of sexual functioning, we argue that the medicalization and psychologization of certain sexual behaviors by doctors and advice-seekers discursively reinforce and legitimize essentialist views of hetero-coital sexual interaction. Such views reify penile-vaginal intercourse and ejaculation as the only standard, successful, and desirable form of sexual activity. This may further induce fear and anxiety among adult men whose sexual behaviors do not realistically align with these norms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuekun Liu
- School of Foreign Languages, Central China Normal University, No. 152 Luoyu Road, Hongshan District, Wuhan, 430079, HB, PR China.
| | - Zhengpeng Luo
- School of Foreign Languages, Peking University, No. 5 Yiheyuan Road, Haidian District, 100871, Beijing, PR China.
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Al-Shaiji TF. Breaking the Ice of Erectile Dysfunction Taboo: A Focus on Clinician–Patient Communication. J Patient Exp 2022; 9:23743735221077512. [PMID: 35128040 PMCID: PMC8808006 DOI: 10.1177/23743735221077512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Erectile dysfunction is a common yet complex problem facing men and their partners worldwide. It continues to be an under reported issue despites its high prevalence and negative impact as well as the availability of successful treatment. One of the main reasons for such a problem is the stigma surrounding it as a complaint and the deep-seated fear to discuss it. This paper aims to highlight the reasons behind the taboo and dilemma behind erectile dysfunction reporting and discusses means to overcome this stigma focusing on clinician–patient communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tariq F. Al-Shaiji
- Urology Unit, Al-Amiri Teaching Hospital, Kuwait City, Kuwait
- Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialization (KIMS), Kuwait City, Kuwait
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Gerbild H, Areskoug Josefsson K, Marie Larsen C, Schantz Laursen B. Communication about physical activity to reduce vascular erectile dysfunction - A qualitative interview study among men in cardiac rehabilitation. Scand J Caring Sci 2021; 36:839-851. [PMID: 34288023 DOI: 10.1111/scs.13021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physical activity, a core intervention in cardiac rehabilitation, can reduce vascular erectile dysfunction (ED). ED is a common sensitive problem for men with cardiac diseases, decreasing their quality of life. Cardiac health professionals rarely provide information about ED or its relation to physical activity. Developing health professionals' communicative component of the complex intervention 'Physical Activity to reduce Vascular Erectile Dysfunction' (PAVED) is important. Understanding the receiver needs is essential in designing a complex intervention. AIM To elucidate men's perspectives on cardiac health professionals' communication about PAVED. ETHICAL ISSUES An Institutional Data Protection Agency approved the study. METHODS An interpretive data-driven thematic analysis was applied to individual, qualitative semi-structured interviews with 20 Danish men attending cardiac rehabilitation. RESULTS The men wanted health professionals' communicating about ED, as it was perceived as a major problem diminishing masculinity and tabooed by health professionals. Men wanted help for self-help, which may be possible with the aid of competent health professionals' communication about how to prevent, reduce and cope with ED - including information about PAVED. The men wanted health professionals' communication about ED in various contexts: general information in groups, sexual counselling for individuals and couples and written material. STUDY LIMITATIONS Recruitment was done from a Danish municipality's cardiac rehabilitation, and the transferability of the results may be limited to similar contexts. CONCLUSION Erectile dysfunction was experienced as a major biopsychosocial problem for the men and their partners. The men had a need for health professionals' communication about sexuality, ED and information about PAVED as well as about prevention, reduction and management of ED. The men had a need for professional communication about sexual health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helle Gerbild
- Health Sciences Research Centre, UCL University College, Odense, Denmark.,Center for Sexology Research, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.,Department for Behavioural Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kristina Areskoug Josefsson
- Department for Behavioural Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway.,Faculty of Health Studies, VID Specialized University, Sandnes, Norway.,School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping Academy for Improvement of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Camilla Marie Larsen
- Health Sciences Research Centre, UCL University College, Odense, Denmark.,Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Birgitte Schantz Laursen
- Center for Sexology Research, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.,Clinical Nursing Research Unit & Sexological Centre, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
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Gerbild H, Areskoug-Josefsson K, Larsen CM, Laursen BS. Acceptability of Health Professionals' Address of Sexuality and Erectile Dysfunction - A Qualitative Interview Study with Men in Cardiac Rehabilitation. Sex Med 2021; 9:100369. [PMID: 34087535 PMCID: PMC8240334 DOI: 10.1016/j.esxm.2021.100369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In the developing phase of the complex health intervention: Physical Activity to reduce Vascular Erectile Dysfunction (PAVED), it is crucial to explore whether men can accept the communicative component regarding information that regular aerobe Physical Activity can reduce Erectile Dysfunction (i-PAVED). This information is provided by health professionals (HPs) in cardiac rehabilitation, where sexuality issues such as erectile dysfunction (ED) are otherwise rarely addressed. AIM To explore how acceptance of cardiac HPs' address of sexuality, ED, and i-PAVED can be identified in men's narratives. METHODS In this descriptive qualitative study, we conducted semi-structured individual interviews with 20 men (range 48-78 years of age) attending municipal cardiac secondary prevention and rehabilitation programmes on their acceptance of HPs' address of sexuality, ED, and i-PAVED. The Theoretical Framework of Acceptability components (affective attitude, burden, ethicality, intervention coherence, perceived effectiveness, opportunity costs and self-efficacy) and three temporal perspectives (retrospective, concurrent and prospective) were used in the concept-driven first step of a content analysis, which was followed by a thematically data-driven second step. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Men anticipated and experiential acceptance was identified in six out of seven components of Theoretical Framework of Acceptability. RESULTS Men acceptance was identified as "expression of interest," "addressing sexuality," "attitudes and values," "understandable and meaningful," "insights" and "motivation," whereas no narratives were identified in relation to the component of opportunity costs. CONCLUSION As an aspect of the development of the complex cardiovascular health care intervention PAVED, this qualitative study showed that men attending cardiac secondary prevention and rehabilitation seemed to prospectively accept the communicative component of PAVED being HPs' address of sexuality, ED, and i-PAVED, if the HPs are professional, educated and competent in the field of sexual health. Gerbild H, Areskoug-Josefsson K, Larsen CM, et al. Acceptability of Health Professionals' Address of Sexuality and Erectile Dysfunction - A Qualitative Interview Study with Men in Cardiac Rehabilitation. Sex Med 2021;9:100369.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helle Gerbild
- Health Sciences Research Centre, UCL University College, Odense, Denmark; Center for Sexology Research, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
| | - Kristina Areskoug-Josefsson
- Faculty of Health Science, VID Specialized University, Sandnes, Norway; School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping Academy for Improvement of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden; Department for Behavioural Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
| | - Camilla Marie Larsen
- Health Sciences Research Centre, UCL University College, Odense, Denmark; Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics; University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Birgitte Schantz Laursen
- Center for Sexology Research, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark; Clinical Nursing Research Unit, Aalborg University hospital, Denmark
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Lee LJ, Maguire TA, Maculaitis MC, Emir B, Li VW, Jeffress M, Li JZ, Zou KH, Donde SS, Taylor D. Increasing access to erectile dysfunction treatment via pharmacies to improve healthcare provider visits and quality of life: Results from a prospective real-world observational study in the United Kingdom. Int J Clin Pract 2021; 75:e13849. [PMID: 33220087 PMCID: PMC8047876 DOI: 10.1111/ijcp.13849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency in the United Kingdom (UK) formally reclassified sildenafil citrate 50 mg tablets as a pharmacy medicine (sildenafil-P) in 2017 for adult men with erectile dysfunction (ED). A 1-year prospective real-world observational study was conducted to track men's health behaviour, particularly their healthcare resource utilisation (HCRU) and quality of life (QoL) before and after the availability of sildenafil-P. METHODS Adult men with ED aged ≥18 years provided data at baseline (prior to launch of sildenafil-P) and every 3 months after the launch. Demographics, health characteristics, treatments at baseline and HCRU, including number of pharmacist and physician/nurse practitioner visits over time are reported. QoL-related outcomes were assessed via the Self-Esteem and Relationship Questionnaire (SEAR), 2-Item Patient Health Questionnaire and ratings of sexual satisfaction. Generalised linear models were used to assess the association of sildenafil-P use with total physician/nurse practitioner and pharmacist visits and QoL-related outcomes at 12 months. RESULTS Overall, 1162 men completed the survey at all 5 time points. The mean ± SD age was 59.02 ± 12.06 years; 55.42% reported having a moderate-to-severe ED. Hypertension (37.52%) and hypercholesterolaemia (31.50%) were the most common risk factors for ED. At baseline, 62.99% were not using any ED treatment. After adjusting for baseline visits/other covariates, mean physician/nurse practitioner (3.68 vs 2.87; P = .003) and pharmacist visits for any reason (2.10 vs 1.34; P < .001) at 12 months were significantly higher among sildenafil-P users than those who never used sildenafil-P. Sildenafil-P users also had significantly higher SEAR total and domain (sexual relationship and self-esteem) scores at 12 months. CONCLUSION Following the reclassification to a pharmacy medicine in the UK, sildenafil-P was associated with a higher number of physician/nurse practitioner and pharmacist visits for any reason. Sildenafil-P use was also associated with better QoL, although group differences were small in magnitude.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Birol Emir
- Statistical Research and Data CenterGlobal Product DevelopmentPfizer IncNew YorkNYUSA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - David Taylor
- School of PharmacyUniversity College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
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Men with serious chronic illnesses and malignancies are less likely to seek treatment for erectile dysfunction. Int J Impot Res 2019; 32:180-185. [DOI: 10.1038/s41443-019-0139-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Revised: 03/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Zainol M, Sidi H, Kumar J, Das S, Ismail SB, Hatta MH, Baharuddin N, Ravindran A. Co-Morbid Erectile Dysfunction (ED) and Antidepressant Treatment in a Patient – A Management Challenge? Curr Drug Targets 2018; 20:182-191. [DOI: 10.2174/1389450118666170315110902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2016] [Revised: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Throughout the world, antidepressants (AD) and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE-5i) are the commonly prescribed psychopharmacological agents for treating patients with co-morbid mental health problem and sexual dysfunction (SD). The serotonergic and noradrenergic ADs, although effective, are not without any SD adverse-effects, especially erectile dysfunction (ED). ED is a failure to obtain a satisfactory erection for rewarding sexual coitus during the phases of male’s sexual arousal. It is recognized as an important reason why non-adherence to treatment was observed in patients who were on AD. AD intervention caused remission to some of the pre- treatment psychopathology of ED. However, in many patients, AD potentially magnified the unwanted sexual sideeffects. This made the situation challenging for the mental health professional. These challenges are based on the complexity of ED, its etiology and the associated risk factors, which further add to its AD side-effect. The neuro-psychopharmacological basis for AD treatment selection was deliberated. Bio-psycho-social interventions are recommended at two pivotal stages. Firstly, a step should be taken for proper assessment (e.g. detailed history, psychosocial and laboratory investigations); and identify few modifiable risk factors for ED and associated mental health issues. Secondly, with guidance of an algorithm pathway, a practical intervention should include strategies such as dose reduction, augmentation or changing to an AD with lesser or no sexual adverse-effects. It is recommended that bupropion and mirtazepine to be prescribed when patients develop adverse sexual effects with serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) and tricyclic antidepressant (TCA). Few suggestions which may be borne in mind are revising sexual scripts and improving sexual techniques, life-style modifications, psychotherapy and other nonpharmacological approaches which may be beneficial to both patients and their partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maszaidi Zainol
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Hatta Sidi
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Jaya Kumar
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Srijit Das
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Shaiful Bahari Ismail
- Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | | | - Najwa Baharuddin
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Arun Ravindran
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Effect of erectile dysfunction medications on coexisting sexual dysfunctions in couples: Partners' Preference Study. SEXUAL AND RELATIONSHIP THERAPY 2009. [DOI: 10.1080/14681990903321775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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