Using an FSDS-R Item to Screen for Sexually Related Distress: A MsFLASH Analysis. Issue 1 (1st March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carpenter, Janet S.; Reed, Susan D.; Guthrie, Katherine A.; Larson, Joseph C.; Newton, Katherine M.; Lau, R. Jane; Learman, Lee A.; Shifren, Jan L.
• Is Part Of: Sexual medicine. Volume 3:Issue 1(2015)
• Page Start: 7
• Page End: 13
• Publication Date: 2015-03-01
• Subjects: Menopause -- Sexual Behavior -- Female Sexual Distress Scale Revised -- Quality of Life -- Adult -- Female; Sexual disorders -- Periodicals; Sexual health -- Periodicals; 616.69005
• DOI: 10.1002/sm2.53
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-1161

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: The Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised (FSDS-R) was created and validated to assess distress associated with impaired sexual function, but it is lengthy for use in clinical practice and research when assessing sexual function is not a primary objective. Aim: The study aims to evaluate whether a single item from the FSDS-R could be identified to use to screen midlife women for bothersome diminution in sexual function based on three criteria: (i) highly correlated with total scores; (ii) correlated with commonly assessed domains of female sexual functioning; and (iii) able to differentiate between women reporting high and low sexual concerns during the prior month. Methods: Data from 93 midlife women were collected by the Menopause Strategies Finding Lasting Answers to Symptoms and Health (MsFLASH) research network. Main Outcome Measures: Women completed the FSDS-R, Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and Menopausal Quality of Life Scale (MENQOL). Those who reported a change in the past month on the MENQOL sexual were categorized into a high sexual concerns group, while all others were categorized into a low sexual concerns group. Results: Women were an average of 54.6 years old (SD 3.1) and mostly Caucasian (77.4%), college educated (60.2%), married/living as married (64.5%), and postmenopausal (79.6%). The FSDS-R item number 1 "Distressed about sex life" was: (i) highly correlated with FSDS-R total scores ( r = 0.90); (ii) moderately correlated with FSFI total scores ( r = −0.38) and FSFI desire (r = −0.37) and satisfaction domains ( r = −0.40); and (iii) showed one of the largest mean differences between high and low sexual concerns groups ( P < 0.001). Other FSDS-R items met one or two, but not all three of the prespecified criteria (i, ii, iii). Conclusions: A single FSDS-R item may be a useful screening tool to quickly identify midlife women with sexually related distress when it is not feasible to administer the entire scale, though further validation is warranted.