The effect of erectile dysfunction on the quality of life of men after radical prostatectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To report on the first use of a quality-of-life (QoL) measure specific for erectile dysfunction (ED), the 'ED effect on QoL' (ED-EQoL), to assess the effect of ED on QoL after radical prostatectomy (RP).


METHODS
We retrospectively identified 89 patients who had undergone RP at one institution. Each was sent the ED-EQoL and a second questionnaire asking whether they had been counselled before RP about possible ED afterward.


RESULTS
The response rate was 91% and the median time since RP 92 months; 76% of those who were potent before RP were impotent afterward. The overall results showed that the QoL of 72% of patients was moderately or severely affected. For each question, on average a third of the patients reported that their QoL was affected either 'quite a lot' or 'a great deal'.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that ED after RP has a profound effect on QoL; it is therefore important when assessing ED to use an ED-specific QoL questionnaire such as the ED-EQoL to measure the psychosocial effect of ED, in addition to using an instrument such as the International Index of Erectile Function to measure the functional aspects of ED.
Meyer
J-P
JP
Bristol Urological Institute, Southmead Hospital, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, UK. jpmeyer@doctors.org.uk
Gillatt
D A
DA
Lockyer
R
R
Macdonagh
R
R
D000368:Aged; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies