Initial report of the cancer Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) sexual function committee

Abstract

For this report, the authors described the initial activities of the Cancer Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-Sexual Function domain group, which is part of the National Institutes of Health Roadmap Initiative to develop brief questionnaires or individually tailored assessments of quality-of-life domains. Presented are a literature review of sexual function measures used in cancer populations and descriptions of the domains found in those measures. By using a consensus-driven approach, an electronic bibliographic search was conducted for articles that were published from 1991 to 2007, and 486 articles were identified for in-depth review. In total, 257 articles reported the administration of a psychometrically evaluated sexual function measure to individuals who were diagnosed with cancer. Apart from the University of CaliforniaLos Angeles Prostate Cancer Index, the International Index of Erectile Function, and the Female Sexual Function Index, the 31 identified measures have not been tested widely in cancer populations. Most measures were multidimensional and included domains related to the sexual response cycle and to general sexual satisfaction. The current review supports the need for a flexible, psychometrically robust measure of sexual function for use in oncology settings and strongly justifies the development of the PROMIS-Sexual Function instrument. When the PROMIS-Sexual Function instrument is available publicly, cancer clinicians and researchers will have another measure with which to assess patient-reported sexual function outcomes in addition to the few legacy measures that were identified through this review.

A biopsychosocial approach to women’s sexual function and dysfunction at midlife: A narrative review

“…A more comprehensive review of available measures was published in 2009 (10). The most widely used instrument recently has been the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), a 19-item scale with six domains: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, pain, and satisfaction.…”

Sexual function in cervical cancer patients: Psychometric properties and performance of a Chinese version of the Female Sexual Function Index

“…These treatments often cause significant physiological and anatomical changes and complications such as shortened vagina, vaginal dryness and dyspareunia, and consequently have an adverse effect on a women's quality of life and her ability to engage in sexual intercourse (Wilmoth and Spinelli, 2000;Reis et al, 2010). Findings of empirical research have shown that women with cervical cancer often report less sexual interest, a decrease in sexual activity, dyspareunia, lack of lubrication, and low sexual satisfaction (Bergmark et al, 2002;Donovan et al, 2007;Jeffery et al, 2009;Levin et al, 2010;Lammerink et al, 2012).…”

Patients' Conceptions of Terms Related to Sexual Interest, Desire, and Arousal

“…The primary goal of the original research was to update a conceptual measurement model, which had been developed based on extant literature and focus groups with patients with cancer, 24–26 and which would be used to guide item content coverage for the PROMIS Sexual Function and Satisfaction measure version 2.0. 18 Thus, the original analysis was conducted with the goal of refining item content for a self-report measure.…”