title: The prescribing and dispensing of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors in South Korea: a questionnaire survey of patient discomfort.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was performed to investigate the discomfort reported by patients taking phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5Is) in clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  From September 2011 to March 2012, we surveyed patients who were prescribed PDE5Is for erectile dysfunction (ED). The questionnaire elicited information concerning: patient characteristics, medication counseling received and inconveniences experienced in hospitals and at pharmacies, effects of PDE5Is, and the separation of the prescribing and the dispensing of PDE5Is.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 237 patients completed the questionnaire (mean age: 58.81±9.14 years). Among the 62 patients (26.0%) who reported having encountered some inconveniences in hospitals, the most frequently expressed concerns 'assistant staff,' including nurses (38.7%), 'testing procedures' (27.4%), and 'the issuing of prescriptions' (22.6%). Of the 137 patients (57.8%) who noted inconveniences in obtaining medications from pharmacies, 60.6% cited 'self-consciousness' as the most common reason, followed by 'insufficient medication counseling' (22.6%), and 'absence of consultation' (11.6%). In contrast, 82% of the patients were satisfied with the medication counseling that they had received in hospitals, covering drug usage, side effects, and precautions regarding PDE5Is; this proportion was only 30% for pharmacies. Further, most patients (89%) indicated that they preferred to obtain their prescriptions and medications for ED from the hospital at the same time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of ED is a highly private matter. According to the survey, ED patients more often felt that obtaining medication from pharmacies was inconvenient. The sociocultural aspects of ED necessitate that exceptions to separating the prescribing and the dispensing of medication be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Wook
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Wook
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Cheol Yong
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi Mi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hong Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Je Jong
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Du Geon
authors.initials: du G
authors.lastname: Moon
keywords: Erectile dysfunction; Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors; Prescriptions