ORIGINAL RESEARCH—ED PHARMACOTHERAPY
ORIGINAL RESEARCH—ED PHARMACOTHERAPY: Five Years After the Launch of Viagra in Korea: Changes in Perceptions of Erectile Dysfunction Treatment by Physicians, Patients, and the Patients’ Spouses

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ABSTRACT

Introduction

When Viagra was first launched in Korea in 1999, there were high expectations for its efficacy, and strong concerns regarding its safety and potential for misuse.

Purpose

To research changes in perceptions of erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment 5 years after Viagra was launched.

Materials and Methods

Participants in the study were drawn from six provinces in Korea. They were 120 physicians, 80 patients with ED who had been treated with Viagra, and 40 women who knew that their husbands were being treated with Viagra. The study was conducted using a random face‐to‐face interview and a questionnaire.

Results

Most physicians responded that since the launch of Viagra, discussions on the topic of sex are more acceptable (92%), and the number of patients seeking medical treatment for ED has increased (92%). They now have a better understanding of ED (98%). They are more confident of treatment (96%), more interested in identifying ED patients (72%), and more comfortable at initiating discussions on ED with patients (80%). Prior to the launch of Viagra, 65% of internal medicine/family medicine doctors did not prescribe any special treatment for ED. However, after Viagra became available, 92% of these doctors prescribed oral medication for ED, thus confirming their position as primary physicians for ED treatment. One of the most distinct changes in perceptions related to Viagra is the higher level of confidence shown by physicians, patients, and patients’ spouses in the safety of the drug.

Conclusion

Five years after the launch of Viagra, the social environment has changed, making discussions of sex more acceptable. A larger number of patients now seek medical treatment for ED, and there is an increased acknowledgment for ED treatment by physicians, patients, and patients’ spouses. Moreover, these parties are now more confident about the safety of Viagra. Kim S‐C, and Park HS. Five years after the launch of Viagra in Korea: changes in perceptions of erectile dysfunction treatment by physicians, patients, and the patients’ spouses. J Sex Med 2006;3:132–137.

Introduction

There have been several major events that have had a significant influence on overall changes in social and sexual culture, and sexual medicine, including the publication of the report “Sexual Behavior in the Human Male” by Kinsey et al. [1] and the development of the oral contraceptive. The development of Viagra in particular is unanimously acknowledged as a major event that has influenced social culture. When Viagra was first launched in Korea in October 1999, there were high expectations for its efficacy, but also strong concerns regarding its safety and possible misuse. People were additionally concerned that it might cause rapid changes in attitudes toward sexuality. Therefore, nearly 5 years after the launch of Viagra in Korea, this study was conducted among physicians, erectile dysfunction (ED) patients, and spouses whose husbands had ED in order to research Viagra's effect on perceptions and on understanding the nature of ED treatment.

Section snippets

Materials and Methods

The study was conducted using random face‐to‐face interviews and a questionnaire on a population of 120 physicians, 80 patients with ED, and 40 women whose husbands had ED. This subject population was drawn from six Korean provinces (Seoul, Gyeonggi, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, and Gwangju) between June 4, 2003 and August 6, 2004. The questionnaire consisted of three parts; one each for physicians, patients, and partners. The physician's survey had 37 questions regarding changes in the number of

Physicians

Out of a total of 120 physicians, 92% responded that after Viagra had been launched the number of patients visiting clinics for ED treatment increased by an average of 35% (Figure 1). This breaks down to a 40% rise reported by urologists in hospitals, a 30% increase by urologists in private clinics, a 35% growth by internal medicine/family medicine doctors in hospitals, and a 34% increase in internal medicine/family medicine doctors in private clinics. As the primary reason for such increases,

Discussion

In Korean culture, discussion of sex is considered impolite or degrading, and such conversations were forbidden or conducted in private. However, when Viagra was first launched in Korea, almost 330 articles related to ED were published in newspapers countrywide. This reflected a great interest in the drug and triggered active discussions about sex among the middle‐aged and elderly men throughout the media. This study suggested that by educating physicians about ED and by providing the public

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by Pfizer Korea Inc.

Conflict of Interest

None.

References (10)

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