The role of general practitioners in the management of erectile dysfunction—a qualitative study

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to explore the roles and perceptions of general practitioners (GPs) in the management of erectile dysfunction (ED). This qualitative study used focus

group discussions and in-depth interviews. This study was conducted based on 28 GPs from an urban area in Malaysia who had managed patients with ED and prescribed anti-ED drugs. Main

outcome measures included the roles of GPs in managing patients with ED (active or passive), perceptions regarding ED and the treatment, and factors influencing their decision to prescribe.

Majority of the GPs assumed a passive role when managing patients with ED. This was partly due to their perception of the disease being nonserious. Some also perceived ED as mainly

psychological in nature. The anti-ED drugs were often viewed as a lifestyle drug with potentially serious side effects. The fear of being perceived by patients as ‘pushing’ for the drug and

being blamed if the patients were to develop serious side effects also hampered the management of this disease. GPs who participated in this study remained passive in identifying and

treating patients with ED and this was attributed to their perception of the disease, drug treatment and patient's background. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a

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DYSFUNCTION AMONG ADULT MEN IN MALAYSIA Article Open access 06 December 2023 REFERENCES * Feldman HA et al. Impotence and its medical and psychosocial correlates: results of the

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This study was supported in part by educational grants from the Asia Pacific Society for Impotence Research (APSIR), and by GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical and Bayer Healthcare. AUTHOR

INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia C J Ng * Health Research Development Unit,

Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia W Y Low & W Y Choo * College of Family Physician, Singapore N C Tan Authors * C J Ng View author publications You can

also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * W Y Low View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * N C Tan View author publications You can

also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * W Y Choo View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to C J

Ng. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Ng, C., Low, W., Tan, N. _et al._ The role of general practitioners in the management of erectile

dysfunction—a qualitative study. _Int J Impot Res_ 16, 60–63 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901141 Download citation * Received: 16 June 2003 * Revised: 28 July 2003 * Accepted: 29

September 2003 * Published: 12 February 2004 * Issue Date: 01 January 2004 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901141 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the following link with will be

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initiative KEYWORDS * role * erectile dysfunction * general practitioners * Malaysia