Under-recognized factors affecting penile implant satisfaction in patients

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.7720

Keywords:

Penile prosthesis, Patient satisfaction, Erectile dysfunction, Men's health, Penile implantation

Abstract

Introduction: Surgical management via penile prosthesis is an option for patients who have failed medical management. There is a paucity of literature surrounding factors contributing to patient satisfaction after implant surgery. The objective of this study was to characterize patients’ and surgeons’ attitudes toward factors affecting satisfaction with this procedure.

Methods: Two patient cohorts were identified and contacted via email: a medical management of erectile dysfunction (ED) cohort and a penile implant patient cohort. A third cohort, Canadian urologists who perform penile implant surgeries, was also contacted. The surveys consisted of 5–7 questions, including a rating question regarding the importance of various penile implant factors.

Results: Forty-six ED patients, 45 post-implant patients, and 12 urologists completed the survey. The mean overall satisfaction on a 10-point scale was 6.49 (standard deviation [SD] 2.92). Most (67%) urologists selected patient satisfaction as one of their least favorite aspects of penile implant surgery. Compared to postimplant patients, ED patients reported greater importance in the areas of appearance (p=0.035), soft glans (p=0.040), and concealment of implant (p=0.007). Urologists ranked natural feel (p=0.019) and generating a discrete erection (p=0.022) as less important than patients.

Conclusions: This is the first study that examines which specific variables of penile implant surgery are associated with satisfaction while comparing surgeons’ understanding of what patients desire from this surgery. This study identifies several factors deemed important by patients but under-recognized by urologists. This knowledge can aid urologists in optimizing preoperative counselling and improving patient satisfaction.

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Author Biographies

Julie Wong, University of British Columbia

Resident Physician, Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Luke Witherspoon, University of British Columbia

Male Infertility & Sexual Medicine Fellow, Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Department of Urology, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Ryan K. Flannigan, University of British Columbia

Assistant Professor (Urological Sciences), Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Adjunct Assistant Professor (Urology), Department of Urology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA

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Published

2022-03-11

How to Cite

Wong, J., Witherspoon, L., & Flannigan, R. K. (2022). Under-recognized factors affecting penile implant satisfaction in patients. Canadian Urological Association Journal, 16(8), 294–300. https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.7720

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 8 (2022): CUAJ August

Section

Original Research

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