Table 2 Study outcome measures and corresponding questionnaires
Variable | Questionnaire | Details |
|---|---|---|
Primary outcomes | Â | |
Sexual functioning | • Assesses sexual functioning | |
• 10 items; 4-point Likert scales | ||
• Subscales: pleasure; discomfort; habit | ||
• Subscale scores: pleasure 0-18; discomfort 0-6; habit 0-3; higher score indicates higher levels of pleasure; lower score indicates lower levels of discomfort; habit is a single item (0 ‘less sexual activity than usual’ to 3 ‘much more sexual activity than usual’) | ||
• Time frame: past month | ||
• Test retest kappa: 0.50-0.76 | ||
|  | • Assesses sexual functioning | |
• 19 items; 5- and 6-point Likert scales | ||
• Subscales: desire; arousal; lubrication; orgasm; satisfaction; pain | ||
• Total score*: 2-36/Subscale scores*: desire 1.2-6; arousal 0-6; lubrication 0-6; orgasm 0-6; satisfaction 0.8-6; pain 0-6; higher score indicates better sexual functioning | ||
• Time frame: past 4 weeks | ||
• Cronbach’s alpha: >0.82 | ||
|  | • Assesses distress related to sexual dysfunction | |
• 13 items; 5-point Likert scale (0 ‘never’ to 4 ‘always’) | ||
• Total score: 0-52; higher score indicates higher level of sexual distress | ||
• Time frame: past 30 days | ||
• Cronbach’s alpha: >0.88 | ||
Intimacy | PAIR Inventory [87] | • 36 items; 5-point Likert scale (0 ‘strongly disagree’ to 4 ‘strongly agree’) |
• Subscales: emotional intimacy; social intimacy; sexual intimacy; intellectual intimacy; recreational intimacy; conventionality | ||
• Subscale score*: 0-96; higher score indicates higher levels of intimacy | ||
• Time frame: ‘how the relationship is now’ | ||
• Cronbach’s alpha: 0.70-0.80 | ||
Secondary outcomes | Â | |
Body image | QLQ-BR23 Body Image subscale [92] | • 4 items; 4-point Likert scale (1 ‘not at all’ to 4 ‘very much’) |
• Score: 0-100; higher score indicates higher level of functioning | ||
• Time frame: past week | ||
• Cronbach’s alpha: 0.69-0.91 | ||
Menopausal symptoms | FACT-ES ESS-18 [93] | • 18 items; 5-point Likert scale (0 ‘not at all’ to 4 ‘very much’) |
• Score range: 0-72; higher score indicates fewer menopausal symptoms | ||
• Time frame: past 7 days | ||
• Cronbach’s alpha = 0.79 | ||
Marital functioning | MMQ [84] | • 20 items; 9-point Likert scale (range 0-8) |
• Scales: marital adjustment (M); sexual adjustment (S); general life adjustment (GL) | ||
• Scale scores*: S + GL: 0-40; M: 0-80; higher score indicates greater dissatisfaction in the specific domain | ||
• Time frame: past 2 weeks | ||
• Cronbach’s alpha in normal vs. distressed group: M = 0.88/0.87; S = 0.64/0.82; GL = 0.60/0.68 | ||
Psychological distress | • 14 items; 4-point Likert scale (range 0-3) | |
• Subscales: depression (HADS-D); anxiety (HADS-A) | ||
• Total score: 0-42/Subscale scores: 0-21; higher score indicates more psychological distress | ||
• Time frame: past week | ||
• Cronbach’s alpha: HADS-A: 0.68-0.93; HADS-D: 0.67-0.90 | ||
Health-related quality of life | • 36 items; dichotomous and 3- to 6-point Likert scales | |
• Subscales: physical functioning; role limitations due to physical health problems; bodily pain; social functioning; general mental health; role limitations due to emotional problems; vitality; general health perceptions | ||
• Subscale score*: 0-100; higher score indicates higher levels of functioning/well-being | ||
• Time frame: past week | ||
• Cronbach’s alpha = 0.66-0.93 (mean: 0.84) | ||
Sexual functioning (male partners) | IIEF [85] | • 15 items; 5-/6-point Likert scale (0-5 or 1-5) |
• Subscales: erectile function (EF); orgasmic function (OF); sexual desire (SD); intercourse satisfaction (IS); overall satisfaction (OS) | ||
• Total score: 5-75/Subscale scores: EF 1-30; OF 0-10; SD 2-10; IS 0-15; OS 2-10; higher score indicates a higher level of functioning in specific domain | ||
• Time frame: past 4 weeks | ||
• Cronbach’s alpha: 0.73-0.99 | ||