Reproductive coercion (RC) is a form of violence perpetuated against women. It occurs when male partners adopt behaviors meant to control a woman's birth control or pregnancy despite her wishes. This amounts to interference with a woman's autonomy in reproductive decisions. The three main forms of RC are birth control sabotage (including nonconsensual condom removal), pregnancy coercion, and controlling the outcome of a pregnancy. This qualitative exploratory study examines issues in the acknowledgment of RC. Participants were 21 young women in Québec (Canada), who had experienced this form of violence. Results of individual semi-directed interviews reveal that RC can be difficult to acknowledge. A thematic analysis demonstrates that awareness is modulated by the manifestations of RC and by the emotional bond with the perpetrator. Acknowledgment of RC behavior varies according to the form that is experienced: Nonconsensual condom removal is the most readily identified, whereas acknowledgment of pregnancy pressure and pregnancy coercion takes longer, requiring repeated incidents before it is identified as a form of violence. In addition, acknowledgment is facilitated when relationships are casual and uncommitted compared with romantic and committed. Moreover, reading about the issue, confiding in a friend or acquaintance,
Reproductive coercion (RC) refers to behaviors that interfere with contraception use or pregnancy and that limit reproductive autonomy. This article presents the results of a qualitative exploratory study of 21 young women in Canada who experienced RC perpetrated by an intimate partner along with the associated consequences. Results reveal that nonconsensual condom removal occurred more often in uncommitted relationships without violence, whereas pressure to become pregnant and pregnancy coercion occurred more often in committed relationships where other forms of violence were also present. Participants reported numerous repercussions on their psychological, sexual, and reproductive health and on their emotional and relational well-being.
Introduction
The importance of patient instructions, designed to optimize therapy with phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED), has recently been demonstrated.
Aim
To evaluate the impact of an educational program for new sildenafil users against usual ED management in Canadian primary care practices.
Methods
This multicenter, 6-month cluster randomized prospective study was conducted across Canada in general practitioners' offices where sites were randomized to receive a treatment optimization program (TOP) tool at visit 1 (TOP sites) or not to receive the TOP tool (non-TOP sites) while continuing with usual practice. Study participants were men seeking medical attention for ED and who were sildenafil naïve. The TOP tool consisted of a tear-off sheet, a brochure, and a video. Study drug was not provided to the patients. Sildenafil samples and prescriptions were dispensed as per usual care practices.
Main Outcome Measures
The Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS) questionnaire was used to determine treatment satisfaction at visit 2 (month 3) and visit 3 (month 6). Patient and physician satisfaction with the TOP tool was assessed using self-reported questionnaires.
Results
The intent-to-treat (ITT) population consisted of 2,573 patients from 231 primary care sites. At visits 2 and 3, treatment satisfaction with sildenafil was high with almost 9 patients out of 10 satisfied with treatment. No significant statistical differences were observed in the EDITS scores between the TOP and the non-TOP groups at visits 2 and 3. More than 80% of the participants were satisfied or very satisfied with the video and the brochure. More than 8 out of 10 participating physicians (84%) would use the TOP tool in their current practice if available.
Conclusions
TOP is a valuable and time-efficient ED management tool providing benefits to newly diagnosed ED patients and to their physicians.
Introduction
While the efficacy of sildenafil for the management of erectile dysfunction (ED) has been demonstrated in randomized clinical trials, few data exist on its effectiveness in a real-life setting.
Aim
The objective of this study was to examine the treatment satisfaction and effectiveness with sildenafil in a real-life setting in Canada.
Methods
A multicenter, prospective study, using an educational program aimed at optimizing sildenafil treatment, was conducted at 231 primary care sites across Canada. Patients who received their first prescription of sildenafil for ED within the usual practice of medicine were invited to participate in the study. Data were collected through patient self-administered questionnaires.
Main Outcome Measures
The Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) questionnaire was used to determine the erectile function at baseline, month 3 and month 6. Treatment satisfaction at months 3 and 6 was assessed using the Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS) questionnaire.
Results
The intent-to-treat population consisted of 2,573 patients. The mean age was 55 years (18 to 92 years). At baseline, the mean SHIM score was 11.9 with 21.7% of men having severe ED, 22.9% moderate ED, 36.5% mild-to-moderate ED, and 16.9% mild ED. At month 3, the mean SHIM score improved significantly to 18.0 (P < 0.0001) and 33.3% of patients had a SHIM score above 21 (no ED). At 6 months, the mean SHIM score was 18.7. At both months 3 and 6, approximately 89% of patients were satisfied with their treatment (i.e., EDITS score ≥ 50), suggesting no attenuation of the satisfaction over the 6 months of use.
Conclusions
The effectiveness of sildenafil in the management of ED was demonstrated in a large cohort of men treated in a primary care setting in this Canadian real-life study. Persistence with therapy and lack of attenuation over time among the vast majority of men was shown.
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