Treatment satisfaction in patients with erectile dysfunction switching from prostaglandin E-l intracavernosal injection therapy to oral sildenafil citrate

Treatment satisfaction, subanalysed by demographic variables, was evaluated in patients switching from successful intracavernosal prostaglandin E-1 (PGE(1)) therapy to oral sildenafil citrate. The validated Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction questionnaire was administered at the end of PGE(1) therapy and after 12 weeks of sildenafil treatment in a multicentre, open-label study. Men with erectile dysfunction (n = 176) who were switched from stable PGE(1) therapy to sildenafil (25-100 mg) were equally satisfied with onset of action, duration of action, and confidence in ability to engage in sexual activity, but expressed greater overall treatment satisfaction with sildenafil (P<0.01), better ease of use (P<0.001), naturalness of erectile process (P<0.001), and intention to continue treatment (P<0.001). Partners (n=32) were overall more satisfied with sildenafil (P< 0.05), and their responses correlated with patient satisfaction (r = 0.68). Compared with PGE(1) injection, these data suggest that patients may be less likely to discontinue taking sildenafil treatment for their erectile dysfunction.