A Web-Based Survey of Patients Dispensed Viagra Connect^® Behind the Counter in UK: An Evaluation of Effectiveness of Additional Risk Minimization Measures

Figures & data

Table 1 Characteristics of the Patients and the Pharmacies They Visited

Patient Characteristics	Patients (N=297) n (%)
Age group of participants (years)
Less than 18	0
18–40	123 (41.4)
41–60	135 (45.5)
61–65	19 (6.4)
More than 65	19 (6.4)
Prefer not to answer	1 (0.3)
Participants with symptoms of ED
Yes	256 (86.2)
No	41 (13.8)
Participants prescribed with sildenafil or other ED medication by their doctor
Yes	41 (13.8)
No	234 (78.8)
I do not know	5 (1.7)
I prefer not to answer	17 (5.7)
Timeline for the First-time purchase of VC
Within the last week	48 (16.2)
Within the last month	84 (28.3)
Within the last 3 months	74 (24.9)
Within the last 6 months	39 (13.1)
Within the last 12 months	24 (8.1)
Within the last 18 months	9 (3.0)
More than 18 months ago	19 (6.4)
Characteristics of the pharmacies and pharmacists visited
Location of pharmacy
Urban (city, large town or suburban area)	224 (75.4)
Rural (small town, village, countryside)	73 (24.6)
Type of pharmacy
Chain pharmacy (eg, Boots)	121 (40.7)
Independent Pharmacy	167 (56.2)
Not sure	9 (3.0)
Gender of the pharmacist
Male	182 (61.3)
Female	109 (36.7)
I do not remember	6 (2.0)

Abbreviations: ED, Erectile dysfunction; VC, Viagra connect^®.

Table 2 Proportions of Patients Reported Whether Pharmacists Asked Them the 5 Questions Assessing Their Suitability for VC

Question	Yes^ψ	No	I Do not Know
	n (%) [95% CI]^^	n (%)	n (%)
Question: The FIRST time you purchased VC from your pharmacist, did the pharmacist ask you about any of the following?
Whether you have ED	244 (82.2) [77.3–86.3]	29 (9.8)	24 (8.1)
Questions about your BP and heart	273 (91.9) [88.2–94.8]	11 (3.7)	13 (4.4)
Whether your doctor has advised you that you are not fit enough for any physical and/or sexual activity	213 (71.7) [66.2–76.8]	56 (18.9)	28 (9.4)
Whether you had any other illnesses	261 (87.9) [83.6–91.4]	19 (6.4)	17 (5.7)
Whether you were taking any other medications (for ED or any other medical condition)	257 (86.5) [82.1–90.2]	23 (7.7)	17 (5.7)

Notes: ^ψTotal number of participants (N)=297; ^{^}95% exact two-sided confidence intervals were calculated using the Clopper-Pearson method.

Abbreviations: BP, Blood pressure; ED, Erectile dysfunction; VC, Viagra connect^®.

Table 3 Proportions of Patients Reported, at Their First Purchase of VC, Whether Pharmacists Advised Them to Consult Their Doctors Within 6 Months of Their First Supply of VC

	Patients (N=297)
	n (%) [95% CI]^^
Question 15: Think about the FIRST time you purchased VC from your pharmacist and indicate which of the following are true. (Please select one only).
I was advised to see my doctor immediately	7 (2.4)
I was advised to see my doctor within a month of the first supply	33 (11.1)
I was advised to see my doctor within 6 months of the first supply	105 (35.4) [29.9–41.1]
I was advised to see my doctor within a year of the first supply	7 (2.4)
I cannot recall if I was advised to see my doctor	96 (32.3)
I was not advised to see my doctor	49 (16.5)
Question 16: The FIRST time you purchased VC from your pharmacist did he/she provide you with a specific slip of paper to instruct you to see your doctor?
Yes	116 (39.1) [33.5–44.9]
No	112 (37.7)
I cannot remember	69 (23.2)

Note: ^{^}95% exact two-sided confidence intervals are calculated using the Clopper-Pearson method.

Abbreviation: ED, Erectile dysfunction; VC, Viagra connect^®.

Table 4 Proportions of Patients Reported Whether They Have Visited Their Doctors Since Their First Purchase of VC or Planned to Visit Their Doctor in the Near Future

Question	Patients (N=297)
	n (%) [95% CI]^^
Question 18: Since purchasing the FIRST supply of VC from your pharmacist, which of the following are true? (Please select one only.)
I have seen my doctor and the doctor advised I can continue with sildenafil by buying it at the pharmacy without a prescription	50 (16.8) [12.8–21.6]
I have seen my doctor and the doctor advised that I should not continue with sildenafil by buying it at the pharmacy without a prescription	7 (2.4) [1.0–4.8]
I have not seen my doctor to discuss taking VC but plan to do so	136 (45.8) [40.0–51.6]
I have not seen my doctor to discuss taking VC and do not plan to do so	84 (28.3) [23.2–33.8]
I prefer not to answer	20 (6.7)

Note: ^{^}95% exact two-sided confidence intervals are calculated using the Clopper-Pearson method.

Abbreviations: ED, Erectile dysfunction; VC, Viagra connect^®.

Table 5 Proportions of Patients Reported Receiving Advice from Pharmacist

Question	Patients (N=297)
	n (%) [95% CI]^^
Question: When your pharmacist gave you VC for the FIRST time did the pharmacist:
Advise you that ED can be caused by underlying conditions such as high BP, diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease
Yes *	238 (80.1) [75.1–84.5]
No	37 (12.5)
I do not remember	22 (7.4)
Offer you advice about lifestyle (eg, losing weight, giving up smoking, cutting back on alcohol/recreational drugs, exercising regularly, reducing stress)
Yes *	204 (68.7) [63.1–73.9]
No	60 (20.2)
I do not remember	33 (11.1)
Advise you how to take VC correctly
Yes *	254 (85.5) [81.0–89.3]
No	28 (9.4)
I do not remember	15 (5.1)
Advise you of the possible side effects for which you should stop VC and consult your doctor
Yes *	244 (82.2) [77.3–86.3]
No	28 (9.4)
I do not remember	25 (8.4)

Notes: ^{^}95% exact two-sided confidence intervals are calculated using the Clopper-Pearson method; *Correct response.

Abbreviations: BP, Blood pressure; ED, Erectile dysfunction; VC, Viagra connect^®.

Table 6 Patients’ Experience of Whether They Were Assessed for Suitability for VC and Being Advised About the Safe Use of VC, Potential Causes of ED and Offered Lifestyle Advise in Stratified Population

Question	Whether the Pharmacists Asked the Patient if He has Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
	Yes N=244 n (%)	No/I Do not Remember N=53
	[95% CI]^^	n (%) [95% CI]^^
Question 13: The FIRST time you purchased VC from your pharmacist, did the pharmacist ask you about any of the following?
Questions about your BP and heart
Yes *	236 (96.7) [93.6–98.6]	37 (69.8) [55.7–81.7]
No	2 (0.8)	9 (17.0)
I do not remember	6 (2.5)	7 (13.2)
Whether your doctor has advised you that you are not fit enough for any physical and/or sexual activity
Yes *	194 (79.5) [73.9–84.4]	19 (35.8) [23.1–50.2]
No	32 (13.1)	24 (45.3)
I do not remember	18 (7.4)	10 (18.9)
Whether you had any other illnesses
Yes *	227 (93.0) [89.1–95.9]	34 (64.2) [49.8–76.9]
No	8 (3.3)	11 (20.8)
I do not remember	9 (3.7)	8 (15.1)
Whether you were taking any other medications (for ED or any other medical condition)
Yes *	224 (91.8) [87.6–94.9]	33 (62.3) [47.9–75.2]
No	11 (4.5)	12 (22.6)
I do not remember	9 (3.7)	8 (15.1)
Number of items being assessed for suitability
0 items	3 (1.2)	9 (17.0)
1 item	8 (3.3)	6 (11.3)
2 items	8 (3.3)	9 (17.0)
3 items	43 (17.6)	17 (32.1)
4 items	182 (74.6) [68.6–79.9]	12 (22.6) [12.3–36.2]
Question 15: Think about the FIRST time you purchased VC from your pharmacist and indicate which of the following are true. (Please select one only).
I was advised to see my doctor immediately	7 (2.9)	0
I was advised to see my doctor within a month of the first supply	30 (12.3)	3 (5.7)
I was advised to see my doctor within 6 months of the first supply *	97 (39.8) [33.6–46.2]	8 (15.1) [6.7–27.6]
I was advised to see my doctor within a year of the first supply	6 (2.5)	1 (1.9)
I cannot recall if I was advised to see my doctor	76 (31.1)	20 (37.7)
I was not advised to see my doctor	28 (11.5)	21 (39.6)
Question 16: The FIRST time you purchased VC from your pharmacist did he/she provide you with a specific slip of paper to instruct you to see your doctor?
Yes*	115 (47.1) [40.7–53.6]	1 (1.9) [0.0–10.1]
No	80 (32.8)	32 (60.4)
I cannot remember	49 (20.1)	20 (37.7)
Question 14: When your pharmacist gave you VC for the FIRST time did the pharmacist:
Advise you how to take VC correctly
Yes *	225 (92.2) [88.1–95.2]	29 (54.7) [40.4–68.4]
No	12 (4.9)	16 (30.2)
I do not remember	7 (2.9)	8 (15.1)
Advise you of the possible side effects for which you should stop VC and consult your doctor
Yes *	222 (91.0) [86.7–94.3]	22 (41.5) [28.1–55.9]
No	11 (4.5)	17 (32.1)
I do not remember	11 (4.5)	14 (26.4)
Advise you that ED can be caused by underlying conditions such as high BP, diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease
Yes *	214 (87.7) [82.9–91.5]	24 (45.3) [31.6–59.6]
No	16 (6.6)	21 (39.6)
I do not remember	14 (5.7)	8 (15.1)
Offer you advice about lifestyle (eg, losing weight, giving up smoking, cutting back on alcohol/recreational drugs, exercising regularly, reducing stress)
Yes *	193 (79.1) [73.5–84.0]	11 (20.8) [10.8–34.1]
No	28 (11.5)	32 (60.4)
I do not remember	23 (9.4)	10 (18.9)

Notes: ^{^}95% exact two-sided confidence intervals are calculated using the Clopper-Pearson method; *Correct response.

Abbreviations: BP, Blood pressure; ED, Erectile dysfunction; VC, Viagra connect^®.