Knowledge of testosterone replacement therapy is significantly correlated with patient satisfaction suggesting greater need for education

SV Llahana; GS Conway

The purpose of this study was to explore the use of testosterone treatment and patients’ knowledge in male hypogonadism. A questionnaire was sent to all 213 patients on testosterone replacement therapy recorded in our clinic database, with a response rate of 35.7% (n=76). Respondents’ age ranged from 19 to 87 years (mean=44.5; S.D.=16.2). Causes of hypogonadism for this group are presented in Table 1.

Table 1 Respondents’ cause of hypogonadism (n=76)
A	Primary hypogonadism n=14 (18.4%)	Kleinfelter’s Syndrome (n=9), Primary testicular failure (n=5), Chemotherapy (3), Mumps (n=1), Haemochromatosis (n=1), Testicular cancer (n=1) Post inguinal hernia repair (n=1)
B	Secondary hypogonadism n=47 (61.8%)	Pituitary surgery (n=23), Craniopharyngioma (n=6), Idiopathic hypopituitarism (n=10), Hypogonadotrophic Hypogonadism (n=7), Kallman’s syndrome (n=1), HIV (n=1)
C	Did not respond to this question n=7 (9.2%)

Duration of testosterone treatment ranged from 0.4 to 35 years (mean=10.4; S.D.=8.9). The most widely used form of treatment at the time of the study was Sustanon 250 mg (39.5%) followed by Testogel (35.5%). For 62 patients (82%), this treatment was chosen by the hospital endocrinologist. Of the 76 respondents, only 70% had received adequate information about their treatment. Patients’ level of knowledge was correlated with satisfaction with their form of treatment (r=0.436; P<0.001). Only one patient could list all the available forms of testosterone treatment whilst 39 (51.3%) patients could list only up to two. Similarly, 55 (72.3%) patients had used up to two testosterone products; 67 (88.2%) had at some point been on Sustanon. The number of products used was not correlated to the years of treatment but was significantly correlated to the number of treatment forms patients knew of (r=0.611; P<0.001). Respondents were also asked to list any positive and negative features of each testosterone product they had used; comments were analysed using content analysis.

This survey concluded that patients have inadequate knowledge regarding testosterone replacement therapy and almost half of them (47.2%) were unsatisfied with their treatment. The need for patient education is imperative in order to provide individualised care tailored to each patient’s needs.

Endocrine Abstracts

P201