Quality of Sexual Life Questionnaire (QVS): a reliable, sensitive and reproducible instrument to assess quality of life in subjects with erectile dysfunction (original) (raw)

ORIGINAL RESEARCH—OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT: Further Psychometric Validation of the Sexual Life Quality Questionnaire for Men with Erectile Dysfunction and Their Partners on a Modified Spanish Language Version

2009

Although erectile dysfunction (ED) is known to hamper quality of life (QoL) of afflicted men and their partners, there are few validated instruments for assessing the couple's sexual QoL. The Sexual Life Quality of Life Questionnaire (SLQQ) was developed in the United States for this purpose, and so it has been used in clinical studies. Yet, the original description did not address some important psychometric properties included in the Food and Drug Administration 2006 guidance for patient-reported outcome instruments. Aims. The aims of this study were to validate a Spanish language version of the modified SLQQ (mSLQQ), and to evaluate on it those psychometric properties lacking in the seminal description, namely discriminant validity and test-retest stability. Methods. Psychometric validation of the translated SLQQ was conducted on 164 ED patients and their sexual partners, and 60 age-matched non-dysfunctional couples. At baseline, all subjects completed the mSLQQ QoL and the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey questionnaires, and the men the International Index of Erectile Function. Two weeks later, ED patients abstaining from any ED medication and their partners repeated the mSLQQ QoL (104 valid couples). Oral medication for ED was then prescribed. Four weeks thereafter, they completed the QoL and treatment satisfaction scales of the SLQQ. Main Outcome Measures. The mSLQQ QoL scores of men and women at different times for psychometric analyses. Results. Cronbach a coefficients indicated good internal consistency. Large differences between control and ED couples, and close association with ED severity demonstrated discriminant and convergent validity, respectively. High intra-class correlation coefficients and similar mean scores at first and second visits substantiated test-retest stability. Significant increases after treatment with robust effect size demonstrated sensitivity to change in both patients and partners. Conclusions. This adaptation of the SLQQ shows psychometric properties comparable to the original description. The additional properties demonstrated here fully validate the mSLQQ as a tool for evaluating sexual QoL in ED patients and their partners. Gutiérrez P, Hernández P, Sanz E, Cardeñosa O, and Mas M. Further psychometric validation of the sexual life quality questionnaire for men with erectile dysfunction and their partners on a modified Spanish language version. J Sex Med 2009;6:2698-2706.

Further Psychometric Validation of the Sexual Life Quality Questionnaire for Men with Erectile Dysfunction and Their Partners on a Modified Spanish Language Version

Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2009

Introduction. Although erectile dysfunction (ED) is known to hamper quality of life (QoL) of afflicted men and their partners, there are few validated instruments for assessing the couple's sexual QoL. The Sexual Life Quality of Life Questionnaire (SLQQ) was developed in the United States for this purpose, and so it has been used in clinical studies. Yet, the original description did not address some important psychometric properties included in the Food and Drug Administration 2006 guidance for patient-reported outcome instruments. Aims. The aims of this study were to validate a Spanish language version of the modified SLQQ (mSLQQ), and to evaluate on it those psychometric properties lacking in the seminal description, namely discriminant validity and test-retest stability. Methods. Psychometric validation of the translated SLQQ was conducted on 164 ED patients and their sexual partners, and 60 age-matched non-dysfunctional couples. At baseline, all subjects completed the mSLQQ QoL and the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey questionnaires, and the men the International Index of Erectile Function. Two weeks later, ED patients abstaining from any ED medication and their partners repeated the mSLQQ QoL (104 valid couples). Oral medication for ED was then prescribed. Four weeks thereafter, they completed the QoL and treatment satisfaction scales of the SLQQ. Main Outcome Measures. The mSLQQ QoL scores of men and women at different times for psychometric analyses. Results. Cronbach a coefficients indicated good internal consistency. Large differences between control and ED couples, and close association with ED severity demonstrated discriminant and convergent validity, respectively. High intra-class correlation coefficients and similar mean scores at first and second visits substantiated test-retest stability. Significant increases after treatment with robust effect size demonstrated sensitivity to change in both patients and partners. Conclusions. This adaptation of the SLQQ shows psychometric properties comparable to the original description. The additional properties demonstrated here fully validate the mSLQQ as a tool for evaluating sexual QoL in ED patients and their partners. Gutiérrez P, Hernández P, Sanz E, Cardeñosa O, and Mas M. Further psychometric validation of the sexual life quality questionnaire for men with erectile dysfunction and their partners on a modified Spanish language version.

The ED-EQoL: The development of a new quality of life measure for patients with erectile dysfunction

Quality of Life Research, 2000

Purpose: To identify the important issues which have an impact on the quality of life (QoL) of men suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED) and to generate a new ED-specific QoL questionnaire ready to undergo further psychometric testing. Methods: QoL issues relating to ED were generated through in-depth qualitative interviews of 29 patients, literature review and consultation with other healthcare professionals. The issues were formulated into a questionnaire, which was piloted using 40 patients with ED and subsequently refined using well-established principles of questionnaire development. Results: The qualitative interviews revealed numerous psychosocial problems associated with ED, which were operationalised into a 40-item questionnaire. Pilot testing allowed the questionnaire to be reduced to a manageable 15-item final questionnaire while maintaining face and content validity and the potential to discriminate between men with varying degrees of affected QoL. This questionnaire had a Cronbach's a of 0.94. Conclusions: A new EDspecific QoL measure has been developed using appropriate methodology. Qualitative techniques identified a range of psychosocial morbidity in men with ED, leading to a simple but robust instrument with face and content validity. This questionnaire, Erectile Dysfunction -Effect on quality of life (ED-EQoL), has now undergone psychometric testing for validity and reliability.

Quality of life in patients of erectile dysfunction: a cross sectional study in tertiary care settings

International Surgery Journal, 2019

Background: Normal sexual desire coupled with physical inability to act is a major source of mental stress in interpersonal relationships which subsequently affects the quality of life of patients.Methods: The present cross sectional study was conducted among patients of erectile dysfunction visiting the Urology OPD of tertiary care hospital. Study instruments used were international index of erectile function (IIEF) to assess sexual functions and version of the WHO QOL scale (WHOQOL-BREF) to assess quality of life.Results: 168 patients were interviewed and 62.5% of them were less than 45 years of age. Age, income and presence of co-morbidity were found to be statistically significantly associated with ED (p<0.05). Overall QOL scores were lower in severe grades of ED as compared to milder grades and this difference was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05).Conclusions: Erectile dysfunction has a significant impact on the quality of life of the patients which reemphasi...

Male Erectile Dysfunction and Health-Related Quality of Life

European Urology, 2003

Objective: The purpose of this work was to assess the health-related quality of life factors associated with erectile dysfunction (ED). Methods: 2476 non-institutionalised Spanish males, age ranging from 25 to 70 years, were interviewed. ED was defined using two instruments: a simple self-assessment question (ED-sq) and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was measured through the SF-36 questionnaire. Results: The severity of ED (measured both through the ED-sq and with the IIEF) increased as the scores of the scales of the SF-36 decreased (Mantel-Hänszel w 2 -test statistic range: ; p < 0:001). The two summary components (physical and mental) showed a downward trend, more for the physical than for the mental component. Conclusion: We found a clear pattern of negative association between self-perceived erectile dysfunction and HRQoL. This association was clearer when ED-sq (rather than IIEF) was used, and stronger for the physical summary component than for the mental one. #

The international index of erectile function (IIEF): a multidimensional scale for assessment of erectile dysfunction

Urology, 1997

Objectives. To develop a brief, reliable, self-administered measure of erectile function that is cross-culturally valid and psychometrically sound, with the sensitivity and specificity for detecting treatment-related changes in patients with erectile dysfunction. Methods. Relevant domains of sexual function across various cultures were identified via a literature search of existing questionnaires and interviews of male patients with erectile dysfunction and of their partners. An initial questionnaire was administered to patients with erectile dysfunction, with results reviewed by an international panel of experts. Following linguistic validation in 10 languages, the final 15-item questionnaire, the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), was examined for sensitivity, specificity, reliability (internal consistency and testretest repeatability), and construct (concurrent, convergent, and discriminant) validity. Results. A principal components analysis identified five factors (that is, erectile function, orgasmic function, sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction, and overall satisfaction) with eigenvalues greater than 1.0. A high degree of internal consistency was observed for each of the five domains and for the total scale (Cronbach's alpha values of 0.73 and higher and 0.91 and higher, respectively) in the populations studied. Test-retest repeatability correlation coefficients for the five domain scores were highly significant. The IIEF demonstrated adequate construct validity, and all five domains showed a high degree of sensitivity and specificity to the effects of treatment. Significant (P values -0.0001) changes between baseline and post-treatment scores were observed across all five domains in the treatment responder cohort, but not in the treatment nonresponder cohort. Conclusions. The IIEF addresses the relevant domains of male sexual function (that is, erectile function, orgasmic function, sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction, and overall satisfaction), is psychometrically sound, and has been linguistically validated in l 0 languages. This questionnaire is readily self-administered in research or clinical settings. The IIEF demonstrates the sensitivity and specificity for detecting treatment-related changes in patients with erectile dysfunction. UROLOGY 49: 822-830, 1997.

Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of the Life Satisfaction Checklist as a Screening Tool for Erectile Dysfunction

The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2007

There is a need for a more feasible and acceptable screening tool for erectile dysfunction (ED) in our health context. The Fugl-Meyer's Life Satisfaction Checklist (LISAT-8) has been shown to be a simple and good instrument for assessing the satisfaction of ED patients in different aspects of their lives and has also shown acceptable psychometric properties to be used in the Spanish population with ED. Furthermore, this checklist has been used as a screening tool in patients with and without ED, showing valid and reliable properties for detection of ED. Aim. To evaluate the validity and feasibility of LISAT-8 checklist as a screening tool to detect ED.

Characteristics and expectations of patients with erectile dysfunction: results of the SCORED study

International Journal of Impotence Research, 2008

In an observational study in men with erectile dysfunction (ED) consulting a general practitioner (GP) or urologist in Belgium, demographics, ED characteristics (including erection hardness score), co-morbidities and treatment expectations were evaluated using a structured questionnaire. In total, 341 GPs and 41 urologists recruited 1492 patients. Most (74%) were untreated and 25% had ED for 43 years. Considering PDE5 inhibitors, erection hardness (89%) and maintenance (92%) were considered 'very important' by most patients. Only 18% of physicians initiated discussion about ED, despite 41% of patients having X3 known risk factors. The questionnaire was considered helpful by 81% of GPs and 83% of their patients. Overall, patients are under-diagnosed, and physicians are reluctant to ask about ED. A questionnaire including erection hardness score is useful to facilitate discussion about ED in general practice. Erection hardness and maintenance are more important to patients as compared to fast onset or long duration of action.