The Psychosocial Outcomes of Tadalafil Therapy: What Drives Treatment Choice.

The Psychosocial Outcomes of Tadalafil Therapy: What Drives Treatment Choice, John Dean, Human Sexuality Devon Partnership NHS Trust, United Kingdom

I examined the results of an open label, crossover study comparing sildenafil citrate and tadalafil taken by men with erectile dysfunction (ED) who were naive to PDE5 inhibitor therapy. At the end of the study, 71% of men preferred tadalafil and 29% of men preferred sildenafil. I focused on the psychosocial variables associated with successful ED treatment. As part of the study, patients were asked to identify the reasons why they chose one drug over another, using a drug attributes questionnaire which listed the following attributes: duration of efficacy; firmness of erections; consistency of response; time to onset of effectiveness; side effects; partner preference; and tolerability. Recognizing drug attributes that have a positive effect on treatment satisfaction may help to identify common reasons men chose sildenafil citrate or tadalafil for treatment. In addition to drug attributes, the effect of ED treatment on psychosocial factors was assessed using the Psychological And Interpersonal Relationship Scales (PAIRS). PAIRS is a self-report measure used to compare sexual self-confidence, spontaneity, and time concerns. As with the drug attributes questionnaire, the differences in PAIRS domain scores may help explain why men chose one treatment versus another for their ED. Combined, the drug attributes questionnaire and PAIRS may provide insight into what is important to men seeking treatment for their ED.