Help-seeking interval in erectile dysfunction: analysis of attitudes, beliefs, and factors affecting treatment-seeking interval in Turkish men with previously untreated erectile dysfunction.
In this study, we report data on attitudes, beliefs, and factors affecting  the help-seeking interval among Turkish men with erectile dysfunction to  determine whether they are different from those previously published in the  literature. Out of 279 Turkish men complaining of erectile dysfunction  attending our clinic between December 2006 and March 2008 without the need for  referral, 202 were interviewed from a standardized questionnaire covering  demographic details, relationships, help-seeking intervals, and attitudes and  beliefs. Eleven patients interrupted the questionnaire and only 191  individuals who had never sought medical help for their erectile dysfunction  completed the study. The mean age of the study population was 50.1 (20-80)  years. Overall, 93.7% of participants had engaged in sexual intercourse during  the year preceding the interview. The mean help-seeking interval and the mean  estimated time elapsed since last satisfactory sexual intercourse were 24.5  (1-360) and 10.5 (1-180) months, respectively. Patients with low household  income and education level had a relatively longer help-seeking interval than  the remaining sample. No statistical correlation was seen between  treatment-seeking interval and patient age, duration of marriage or continued  relationship, and presence of premature ejaculation. Main reasons for delayed  consultation included embarrassment (n = 63, 33%) and thinking of erectile  dysfunction as a natural process of aging (n = 51, 26.7%). To enable earlier  diagnosis and management of erectile dysfunction, emphasis should be put into  the provision of affordable health care and wide public education about  erectile dysfunction as an entity requiring prompt medical consultation.
Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of Ankara, Ankara, Turkey. omergulpinar@yahoo.com
Omer
O
Gülpinar
Ahmet H
AH
Haliloğlu
Mohamed Ismat
MI
Abdulmajed
Mehmet Salih
MS
Bogga
Onder
O
Yaman
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003469:Culture; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology