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Pharmacological Treatment Nonadherence in Men with Erectile Dysfunction

Nicholas C. Larma, B.A.

Predoctoral Intern

Federal Medical Center, Rochester

Christopher D. Chuick, M.S.

William Ming Liu, Ph.D.

University of Iowa

Global Problems in Mens Health

There exists a crisis in mens health. This crisis is best evidenced by the gender gap in life expectancy. Data from the National Vital Statistics Reports (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, USDHHS, 2004) calculates this gap at 5.3 years with the average life expectancy for men at 74.5 years compared to 79.9 years for women. This gap increases for ethnic/racial minorities and in other countries. The gap in life expectancy is particularly perplexing given the fact that women outlived men an average of only one year in 1920 (USDHHS, 2004). Men also have higher mortality rates than women for 12 of the 15 leading causes of death and are at equal numbers to women for 2 of the leading causes. Again, these statistics are even bleaker for men of ethnic/racial minority status. This crisis is largely related to multiple factors associated with mens health.

Factors Affecting Mens Health

Research has indicated that men engage less frequently in health-promoting behaviors, exhibit a toxic pattern of denying illness, seek medical and psychological help far less than women, and are often noncompliant with treatment plans prescribed by health professionals (Courtenay, 2003). This denial of mortality and unwillingness to seek help are socialized variables that plague masculinity.

Erectile Dysfunction

One health problem men face is Erectile Dysfunction (ED). This disorder is particularly useful to examine because it best highlights some of the factors that impair mens attainment of a positive health status. For example, one would think that men would be highly proactive in remedying their ED because sexual functioning is such a socialized staple of their masculinity and sense of self. However, mens behaviors in admitting a problem, seeking help and adhering to treatment plans contradicts the idea that they would be proactive in remedying their ED.