A Survey of Traditional Medicine Pattern Identification in Patients With Erectile Dysfunction

August 22, 2026 updated by: Bui Pham Minh Man, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City

Traditional Medicine Pattern Distribution in Patients With Erectile Dysfunction: A Cross-sectional Study

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common condition that significantly affects quality of life, psychological well-being, and interpersonal relationships. In Traditional Medicine, ED is classified into different syndrome patterns, which are essential for guiding individualized treatment; however, evidence on their distribution and associated factors in Vietnam remains limited. This cross-sectional study aims to determine the distribution of Traditional Medicine syndrome patterns in patients with ED and to evaluate their associations with demographic characteristics, clinical features, psychological status, and lifestyle factors, thereby providing evidence to support improved diagnosis and integrative treatment approaches.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Erectile Dysfunctions

Detailed Description

This is a cross-sectional observational study designed to characterize the distribution of Traditional Medicine (TM) syndrome patterns among adult male patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) and to explore their associations with demographic, clinical, psychological, anthropometric, and lifestyle characteristics.

The study will be conducted at Binh Dan Hospital. Male patients aged 18 years or older who meet the study criteria for ED will be recruited during the study period. Erectile function will be assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), a validated instrument used to identify and classify the severity of ED. Clinical information will be collected using a standardized data collection form.

TM syndrome patterns will be assessed according to predefined Traditional Medicine diagnostic criteria by appropriately trained clinicians. The assessment will be used to classify participants into the corresponding TM syndrome patterns. Demographic and clinical data will include age, educational level, age at first diagnosis of ED, ED severity, and relevant characteristics of erectile function. Anthropometric assessment will include body mass index (BMI), calculated from measured body weight and height. Information on relevant comorbidities, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia, will also be recorded.

Psychological status will be assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), with the relevant subscale(s) used to characterize psychological symptoms. Lifestyle information will include smoking and alcohol consumption. All study variables will be collected at the time of enrollment, consistent with the cross-sectional design.

The analysis will first describe the distribution of TM syndrome patterns among participants with ED. Subsequently, the associations between TM syndrome patterns and selected demographic, clinical, psychological, anthropometric, comorbidity, and lifestyle characteristics will be examined. These analyses will include age, age at first diagnosis of ED, BMI, educational level, ED severity and clinical characteristics, psychological status, smoking, alcohol consumption, and selected comorbidities. The study is observational and cross-sectional; therefore, the analyses are intended to identify distributions and statistical associations rather than establish temporal or causal relationships.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

375

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Name: Giang Binh Pham Le Medical Doctor
Phone Number: +84346194876
Email: plgbinh.ths.yhct24@ump.edu.vn

Study Contact Backup

Name: Minh Man Bui Pham Doctor of Phylosophy
Phone Number: +84916080803
Email: bpmman@uhsvnu.edu.vn

Study Locations

Vietnam
- - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
    - Recruiting
    - Binh Dan Hospital, Ho Chi Minh city
    - Contact:
      
      Giang Binh Pham Le Medical Doctor
      
      Phone Number: +84346194876
      
      Email: plgbinh.ths.yhct24@ump.edu.vn
    - Contact:
      
      Minh Man Bui Pham Doctor of Phylosophy
      
      Phone Number: +84916080803
      
      Email: bpmman@uhsvnu.edu.vn

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

Adult
Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

Individuals aged 18 years or older diagnosed with erectile dysfunction at Binh Dan Hospital

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Individuals aged 18 years or older who were diagnosed with erectile dysfunction by a clinical physician at Binh Dan Hospital between January 2026 and August 2026.
Willing to participate in the study and provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

Unable to understand the questionnaire.
Unable to complete all the study questions.
Patients who do not wish to continue participating in the study.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Number of groups / cohorts

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Men aged ≥18 years diagnosed with erectile dysfunction at Binh Dan Hospital

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Traditional medicine pattern identification Time Frame: At the time of enrollment in the study		At the time of enrollment in the study
The associations between traditional medicine syndrome patterns and demographic, clinical, and lifestyle characteristics Time Frame: At the time of enrollment in the study	The associations between traditional medicine syndrome patterns and demographic, clinical, and lifestyle characteristics, including age, age at first diagnosis, body mass index (BMI), educational level, severity and clinical characteristics of erectile dysfunction, psychological status (stress), and lifestyle factors (smoking and alcohol consumption).	At the time of enrollment in the study
Severity of erectile dysfunction according to the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) score Time Frame: At the time of enrollment in the study	Erectile dysfunction severity will be assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), a 5-item validated questionnaire assessing erectile function. The total score ranges from 5 to 25 points. Higher scores indicate better erectile function and less severe erectile dysfunction.	At the time of enrollment in the study
Age, age at first diagnosis, BMI, educational level, severity of erectile dysfunction, clinical characteristics of penile erection in patients with erectile dysfunction, levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, comorbidities, and lifestyle factors Time Frame: At the time of enrollment in the study	Age: Years Age at first diagnosis of ED: Years Body Mass Index (BMI): kg/m², calculated as weight (kg)/height (m)² Educational level: Categorical Severity of ED: IIEF-5 score, 5-25; higher scores indicate better erectile function Clinical characteristics of penile erection: Categorical Depression: DASS-21 depression subscale, 0-42; higher scores indicate greater severity Anxiety: DASS-21 anxiety subscale, 0-42; higher scores indicate greater severity Stress: DASS-21 stress subscale, 0-42; higher scores indicate greater severity Comorbidities: Categorical (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia) Smoking: Categorical Alcohol consumption: Categorical	At the time of enrollment in the study

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Related Info

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

January 14, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

September 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 17, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria