The impact of a brief online mindfulness intervention to support erectile dysfunction in African Caribbean men: a pilot waitlist controlled randomised controlled trial and content analysis.

Abstract

Limited clinical trials have evaluated the effectiveness of mindfulness for sexual functioning in men and the existing studies have targeted white male populations. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Intervention (MBCI) for erectile dysfunction (ED) in n=68 African Caribbean men aged 31–50 years old   A mixed methods approach was adopted to establish the feasibility of a brief online MBCI, using a waitlist-controlled randomised trial with an experimental and delayed group and a content analysis. Participants completed a series of assessments measuring ED, sexual self-efficacy, well-being, and cognitive mindfulness at weeks 0, 4, and 12 (follow-up). They also completed a series of feedback questions on their experiences of the intervention at weeks 0, 4, and 12.   Higher levels of erectile functioning, cognitive mindfulness, sexual self-efficacy, and well-being were reported post-intervention and at the 12-week follow-up.  A content analysis of participant feedback responses yielded favourable outcomes, with participants suggesting that they continue to engage in cognitive mindfulness exercises to support them in “having better sex”. This research is the first to look at MCBI in African-Caribbean males with ED and demonstrated the effectiveness of this online intervention; however, it warrants replication with a larger group of ethnically and culturally diverse participants with ED.