TY - JOUR
T1 - Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy among urologist practitioners
T2 - how the opinion of urologists changed between 2016 and 2019
AU - European Association of Urology Young Academic Urologists (EAU-YAU) Men’s Health Working Group
AU - Capogrosso, Paolo
AU - Di Mauro, Marina
AU - Fode, Mikkel
AU - Lowenstein, Lior
AU - Reisman, Yacov
AU - Dehò, Federico
AU - Salonia, Andrea
AU - Russo, Giorgio Ivan
AU - Albersen, Maarten
AU - Urkmez, Ahmet
AU - Hatzichristodoulou, Georgios
AU - Falcone, Marco
AU - Nicolai, Melianthe
AU - Gul, Murat
AU - Sarikaya, Selkuk
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.
PY - 2020/12
Y1 - 2020/12
N2 - Over the past few years, an increase use of low-intensity shockwave therapy (LISWT) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) has been observed. However, many controversies in the scientific literature about its efficacy still exist. We aimed to investigate changes in the pattern of usage and attitudes toward LISWT for ED among experts over the last years. A dedicated online survey was sent to delegates at the Congress for the EAU Section of Andrological Urology (ESAU) in Prague from 31st October to 1st November 2019. The survey captured demographic data, professional background, and the experience and personal knowledge about LISWT. The results were compared with a previous survey conducted in 2016 and investigating the same topics in order to assess changes in the knowledge and opinion on LISWT over time. Overall, 172 and 192 questionnaires were available from 2019 and 2016, respectively. Participants in the 2019 survey were 80 (45.7%) urologists, 52 (29.7%) uro-andrologists, and 34 (19.4%) residents in urology, from 30 different countries. Compared to the past, we observed an increase of respondents who were familiar with LISWT (75 vs. 95%; p < 0.0001) and who performed LISWT in their routine practice (38% in 2019 vs. 14% in 2016; p < 0.0001). Conversely, no changes in terms of overall perception of treatment efficacy were registered over time (68% in 2019 vs. 72% in 2016 considered LISWT as an effective treatment, respectively (p = 0.5)). An increased proportion of physicians had suggested a wider application of LISWT, and some even advocated its use in nonvasculogenic ED (33% in 2019 vs. 5.9% in 2016; p < 0.0001). The awareness and clinical application of LISWT for ED have increased over time, despite the lack of robust evidence in terms of effectiveness. Further research on the benefit of LISWT is needed to guide physicians in the therapeutic management of ED patients.
AB - Over the past few years, an increase use of low-intensity shockwave therapy (LISWT) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) has been observed. However, many controversies in the scientific literature about its efficacy still exist. We aimed to investigate changes in the pattern of usage and attitudes toward LISWT for ED among experts over the last years. A dedicated online survey was sent to delegates at the Congress for the EAU Section of Andrological Urology (ESAU) in Prague from 31st October to 1st November 2019. The survey captured demographic data, professional background, and the experience and personal knowledge about LISWT. The results were compared with a previous survey conducted in 2016 and investigating the same topics in order to assess changes in the knowledge and opinion on LISWT over time. Overall, 172 and 192 questionnaires were available from 2019 and 2016, respectively. Participants in the 2019 survey were 80 (45.7%) urologists, 52 (29.7%) uro-andrologists, and 34 (19.4%) residents in urology, from 30 different countries. Compared to the past, we observed an increase of respondents who were familiar with LISWT (75 vs. 95%; p < 0.0001) and who performed LISWT in their routine practice (38% in 2019 vs. 14% in 2016; p < 0.0001). Conversely, no changes in terms of overall perception of treatment efficacy were registered over time (68% in 2019 vs. 72% in 2016 considered LISWT as an effective treatment, respectively (p = 0.5)). An increased proportion of physicians had suggested a wider application of LISWT, and some even advocated its use in nonvasculogenic ED (33% in 2019 vs. 5.9% in 2016; p < 0.0001). The awareness and clinical application of LISWT for ED have increased over time, despite the lack of robust evidence in terms of effectiveness. Further research on the benefit of LISWT is needed to guide physicians in the therapeutic management of ED patients.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85089741998&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/s41443-020-00347-x
DO - 10.1038/s41443-020-00347-x
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C2 - 32826969
AN - SCOPUS:85089741998
SN - 0955-9930
VL - 33
SP - 839
EP - 843
JO - International Journal of Impotence Research
JF - International Journal of Impotence Research
IS - 8
ER -