Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-9pm4c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T14:55:41.904Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Measuring quality of life: The development and initial validation of the Patient-Reported Erectile Function Assessment instrument

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 August 2006

George W. Torrance ,
Margaret-Anne Keresteci ,
Richard Casey ,
Nancy C. Ryan  and
Jean-Eric Tarride
George W. Torrance
Affiliation:
McMaster University and Innovus Research, Inc.
Margaret-Anne Keresteci
Affiliation:
Nexus Research Solutions
Richard Casey
Affiliation:
Male Health Centre
Nancy C. Ryan
Affiliation:
Innovus Research, Inc.
Jean-Eric Tarride
Affiliation:
McMaster University
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objectives: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a complex condition, which is variously influenced by physical, emotional, societal, and relationship factors. ED has serious implications for the quality of life (QoL) enjoyed by an affected male and his partner. It is very important, therefore, to understand the impact of ED on the QoL of those affected by it. Our objective was to determine if the eight-question Patient Reported Erectile Function Assessment (PREFA) could act as an independent, comprehensive disease-specific instrument in the assessment of QoL as it is impacted by ED.

Methods: During the development and validation of the Erectile Function–Visual Analog Scale (EF-VAS) (14), a new ED-specific preference-based instrument, a series of questions were included at the beginning of the assessment that would act as a way to encourage respondents to focus on their own experience with ED. Upon analysis of the EF-VAS data, it became apparent that the eight-question “warm up” section might act as a stand-alone assessment. Accordingly, the eight questions were named PREFA, and a validation analysis was undertaken to determine their consistency, feasibility, reliability, validity, and responsiveness.

Results: The PREFA questionnaire was found to be feasible and simple to complete, reliable, and valid, with excellent responsiveness. Overall, the PREFA has demonstrated that it can perform as a stand alone, validated assessment of the impact of ED on QoL, assessing areas of QoL not previously captured in existing instruments.

Conclusions: The PREFA is suitable for use in clinical and research settings as a disease-specific QoL assessment tool.

Keywords

Erectile dysfunctionQuality of lifeDisease-specific assessmentPatient-reported outcomes
Type
GENERAL ESSAYS
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 22 , Issue 3 , July 2006 , pp. 372 - 378
Copyright
© 2006 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Althof SE. 2002 Quality of life and erectile dysfunction. Urology. 59: 803– 810.Google Scholar
Cappelleri JC, Althof SE, Siegel RL, et al. 2004 Development and validation of the self-esteem and relationship (SEAR) questionnaire in erectile dysfunction. Int J Impot Res. 16: 30– 38.Google Scholar
Cappelleri JC, Siegel RL, Glasser DB, et al. 2001 Relationship between patient self assessment of erectile dysfunction and the sexual health inventory for men. Clin Ther. 23: 1707– 1719.Google Scholar
Casey R, Tarride JE, Keresteci MA, Torrance GW. 2006 The Erectile Function Visual Analog Scale (EF-VAS): A disease-specific utility instrument in the assessment of erectile function. Can J Urol. 13: 3016– 25.Google Scholar
Cohen J. 1988. Statistical power analysis for the behavioural sciences. 2nd ed. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Associates;
Feldman HA, Goldstein I, Hatzichristou DG, et al. 1994 Impotence and its medical and psychosocial correlates: Results of the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. J Urol. 151: 54– 61.Google Scholar
Giuliano F, Pena BM, Mishra A, et al. 2001 Efficacy results and quality-of-life measures in men receiving sildenafil citrate for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Qual Life Res. 10: 359– 369.Google Scholar
MacDonagh RP, Porter T, Pontin D, Ewings P. 2004 The ED-EQoL: The development of a new quality of life measure for patients with erectile dysfunction. Qual Life Res. 13: 361– 368.Google Scholar
National Institute of Health (NIH). 1993 Consensus development panel on impotence. JAMA. 270: 83– 90.
Nunnally J. 1978. Psychometric theory. New York: McGraw-Hill;
Rosen RC, Cappelleri JC, Smith MD, et al. 1999 Development of an abridged, 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) as a diagnostic tool for erectile dysfunction. Int J Impot Res. 11: 319– 326.Google Scholar
Rosen RC, Riley A, Wagner G, et al. 1997 The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF): A multidimensional scale for assessment of erectile dysfunction. Urology. 49: 822– 830.Google Scholar
Samsa G, Edelman D, Rothman ML, et al 1999 Determining clinically important differences in health status measures: A general approach with illustration to the Health Utilities Index Mark II. Pharmacoeconomics. 15: 141– 155.Google Scholar
1999 SAS OnlineDocV8
Torrance GW, Keresteci MA, Casey R, et al. 2004 Development and initial validation of a new preference based disease specific health related quality of life instrument for erectile function. Qual Life Res. 13: 349– 359.Google Scholar