R01 - A Comparative Analysis of Patients' Perceived Pain versus Actual Pain

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the most common urologic complaints encountered in a urology practice. In the general population of men the prevalence rate in 20 years and older was 18.4%. Prevalence rates continue to rise through the lifespan with ranges from 5.1% in men 20-39 years to 70.2% in men 70 years and older (Selvin, Burnett, & Platz, 2007). Additionally common comorbid conditions with aging such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes further contribute to the incidence and severity of ED. After ED is diagnosed, there are guidelines and an algorithm of treatments. The recommendations for treatment include lifestyle modifications, oral medications, intraurethral suppositories, intracavernosal injections (ICI), and finally surgical implantation of a penile prosthesis. Once a patient is graduated to treatment of ICI, there is a negative stigma associated with needles, particularly with the thought of an injection into the penis. Our experience is that a patient’s perception of penile pain from the injection is more than actual pain verbalized after the injection. There is limited research assessing the perception of pain associated with ICI therapy. Anticipatory pain is higher than actual reported pain after intracavernosal injection (ICI).

Learning Outcome:
After completing this learning activity, the participant will be able to assess innovations being used by other professionals in the specialty and evaluate the potential of implementing the improvements into practice