ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Development and Initial Validation of the PROMIS
®
Sexual
Function and Satisfaction Measures Version 2.0
Kevin P. Weinfurt, PhD,*
†
Li Lin, MS,* Deborah Watkins Bruner, RN PhD FAAN,
‡
Jill M. Cyranowski, PhD,
§
Carrie B. Dombeck, MA,* Elizabeth A. Hahn, MA,
¶
** Diana D. Jeffery, PhD,
††
Richard M. Luecht, PhD,
‡‡
Susan Magasi, PhD,
§§
Laura S. Porter, PhD,
†
Jennifer Barsky Reese, PhD,
¶¶
Bryce B. Reeve, PhD,*** Rebecca A. Shelby, PhD,
†
Ashley Wilder Smith, MPH PhD,
†††
John T. Willse, PsyD,
‡‡
and Kathryn E. Flynn, PhD
‡‡‡
*Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA;
†
Department of Psychiatry
and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA;
‡
Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of
Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA;
§
Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh
Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA;
¶
Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School
of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; **Center for Patient-Centered Outcomes, Northwestern University Feinberg School of
Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA;
††
Department of Defense—Health Affairs, TRICARE Management Activity, Falls Church, VA,
USA;
‡‡
Department of Educational Research Methodology, School of Education, University of North Carolina at
Greensboro, Chicago, IL, USA;
§§
Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL,
USA;
¶¶
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA;
***Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA;
†††
Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute,
Bethesda, MD, USA;
‡‡‡
Center for Patient Care and Outcomes Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI,
USA
DOI: 10.1111/jsm.12966
ABSTRACT
Introduction. The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)
®
Sexual Function and
Satisfaction measure (SexFS) version 1.0 was developed with cancer populations. There is a need to expand the SexFS
and provide evidence of its validity in diverse populations.
Aim. The aim of this study was to describe the development of the SexFS v2.0 and present preliminary evidence for
its validity.
Methods. Development built on version 1.0, plus additional review of extant items, discussions with 15 clinical
experts, 11 patient focus groups (including individuals with diabetes, heart disease, anxiety, depression, and/or are
lesbian, gay, bisexual, or aged 65 or older), 48 cognitive interviews, and psychometric evaluation in a random sample
of U.S. adults plus an oversample for specific sexual problems (2281 men, 1686 women). We examined differential
item functioning (DIF) by gender and sexual activity. We examined convergent and known-groups validity.
Results. The final set of domains includes 11 scored scales (interest in sexual activity, lubrication, vaginal discomfort,
clitoral discomfort, labial discomfort, erectile function, orgasm ability, orgasm pleasure, oral dryness, oral discom-
fort, satisfaction), and six nonscored item pools (screeners, sexual activities, anal discomfort, therapeutic aids, factors
interfering with sexual satisfaction, bother). Domains from version 1.0 were reevaluated and improved. Domains
considered applicable across gender and sexual activity status, namely interest, orgasm, and satisfaction, were found
to have significant DIF. We identified subsets of items in each domain that provided consistent measurement across
these important respondent groups. Convergent and known-groups validity was supported.
Conclusions. The SexFS version 2.0 has several improvements and enhancements over version 1.0 and other extant
measures, including expanded evidence for validity, scores centered around norms for sexually active U.S. adults, new
domains, and a final set of items applicable for both men and women and those sexually active with a partner and
without. The SexFS is customizable, allowing users to select relevant domains and items for their study. Weinfurt KP,
Lin L, Bruner DW, Cyranowski JM, Dombeck CB, Hahn EA, Jeffery DD, Luecht RM, Magasi S, Porter LS,
Reese JB, Reeve BB, Shelby RA, Smith AW, Willse JT, and Flynn KE. Development and Initial Validation of
the PROMIS
®
Sexual Function and Satisfaction Measures Version 2.0. J Sex Med 2015;12:1961–1974.
1961
© 2015 International Society for Sexual Medicine J Sex Med 2015;12:1961–1974
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