Abstract Introduction Erectile dysfunction (ED) after radical prostatectomy (RP) varies from 14% to 90% and is treated with penile rehabilitation, which may include oral or injectable medications, vacuum devices, and, as a last resort, penile implants. Objective To evaluate the perception and attitude of Brazilian physiotherapists in the pre- and post-operative context of the management of men undergoing RP with ED. Methods Observational and cross-sectional study, approved by the Research Ethics Committee with CAAE registration: 12475719.3.0000.0082, between 2020 and 2023. Inclusion criteria: physiotherapists associated with Brazilian Association of Physioterapy (ABRAFISM) and exclusion criteria: physiotherapists associated with ABRAFISM who did not agree to sign the informed consent form (ICF) and who did not fill in their personal data. Participants received the research email address by email or via WhatsApp from ABRAFISM. The interested party accessed the email address and was directed to the ICF; after acceptance, they began answering the survey. An electronic questionnaire was created using Google Forms; with 38 questions, with personal, professional data and about pre- and post-PR physiotherapy in ED. This study was conducted with the CHERRIES guidelines. Results We obtained 240 responses from Brazilian physiotherapists, the average time was seven years (standard deviation, SD 6.3) of experience with patients with prostate cancer, 56.15% of physiotherapists treated patients before PR and 50.7% reported that their patients experienced stress, distress and concern when informed about the risk of having ED after surgery, 87.67% of participants indicated that the greatest concerns regarding post-PR complications were ED and urinary incontinence. In total, 47.95% of physiotherapists reported that they treated men one month before PR. For 87.67% of physiotherapists, the assessment of pelvic floor muscles (PFM) was primarily used in the pre-surgical period, and 87.67% of professionals used PFM training as a physiotherapeutic resource during this period. Regarding the benefits of pre-PR physiotherapy, 91.78% reported that it improves awareness of the PFM, and 98.26% recommended physiotherapy in the period preceding surgery. Regarding post-PR erectile dysfunction (ED), 86.92% of physiotherapists responded that they treat individuals with this complaint, 36.67% used PFM assessment as the main method to assess ED, and 39.58% pointed to PFM training as the main physiotherapeutic resource to treat ED. Approximately 49.17% of the study participants considered patients to have adequate erectile function when they have normal and spontaneous erections that allow penetration, and 67.62% stated that physiotherapy accelerates recovery from ED. Conclusions According to this study, the participating Brazilian physiotherapists provided pre-PR care and work in the post-PR period for complaints of ED, offering patients training in the pelvic floor muscles as the main physiotherapeutic resource. Disclosure No
Castiglione et al. (Mon,) studied this question.
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