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Introduction. There are many methods to evaluate female sexual function and dysfunction (FSD) in clinical and research settings, including questionnaires, structured interviews, and detailed case histories. Of these, questionnaires have become an easy first choice to screen individuals into different categories of FSD. Aim. The aim of this study was to review the strengths and weaknesses of different questionnaires currently available to assess different dimensions of women's sexual function and dysfunction, and to suggest a simple screener for FSD. Methods. A literature search of relevant databases, books, and articles in journals was used to identify questionnaires that have been used in basic or epidemiological research, clinical trials, or in clinical settings. Main Outcome Measure. Measures were grouped in four levels based on their purposes and degree of development, and were reviewed for their psychometric properties and utility in clinical or research settings. A Sexual Complaints Screener for Women (SCS-W) was then proposed based on epidemiological methods. Results. Although many questionnaires are adequate for their own purposes, our review revealed a serious lack of standardized, internationally (culturally) acceptable questionnaires that are truly epidemiologically validated in general populations and that can be used to assess FSD in women with or without a partner and independent of the partner's gender. The SCS-W is proposed as a 10-item screener to aid clinicians in making a preliminary assessment of FSD. Conclusions. The definition of FSD continues to change and basic screening tools are essential to help advance clinical diagnosis and treatment, or to slate patients adequately into the right diagnostic categories for basic and epidemiological research or clinical trials. Giraldi A, Rellini A, Pfaus JG, Bitzer J, Laan E, Jannini EA, and Fugl-Meyer AR. Questionnaires for assessment of female sexual dysfunction: A review and proposal for a standardize

Introduction. Sexual satisfaction is an important treatment objective for men with erectile dysfunction (ED). Aims. To evaluate potential associations between International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) satisfaction at study endpoint and a range of baseline, on-treatment, and endpoint variables. Methods. An exploratory analysis was conducted involving 3,935 subjects with ED randomized to on-demand tadalafil (N = 2,824) or placebo (N = 1,111) in randomized, controlled trials across 28 countries. Patients achieving scores >= 16 on IIEF questions 7, 8, 13, and 14 at study endpoint were operationally defined as satisfied (vs. < 16, not satisfied). Multivariate logistic regression and other analyses were conducted to ascertain correlates and potential predictors of improvements in the IIEF-erectile function domain (IIEF-EF). Main Outcome Measures. Satisfaction on the IIEF at study endpoint, on-treatment improvements in IIEF-EF, and endpoint sexual frequency. Results. Patients who were satisfied with sexual function were on average younger and had less severe ED, a shorter history of the condition, and no history of vascular disorders, hypertension, or diabetes mellitus/insulin use at baseline (P < 0.01 vs. not satisfied for each). Satisfied patients were also more likely to experience a >= 4-point increase on the IIEF-EF domain on treatment (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 22.4; 95% CI = 17.6-28.5; P < 0.0001) or IIEF-EF >= 26 at endpoint (adjusted OR = 41.0; 95% CI = 33.6-50.2; P < 0.0001). Satisfaction emerged as a strong correlate of a >= 4-point increase in the IIEF-EF on treatment; however, as a correlate of endpoint sexual frequency, baseline sexual frequency was stronger than endpoint satisfaction. Conclusions. Satisfaction is associated with certain baseline, on-treatment, and endpoint variables in ED patients. Further studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings and explore their meaning for female partners. Althof SE, Buvat J

Introduction. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), Sexual Encounter Profile (SEP), and Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS) assess efficacy of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Aims. To determine the degree that multiplicity of satisfaction questions in ED treatment evaluation instruments are congruent, to better understand the concept of sexual "satisfaction,"and to identify factors that correlate with improvement. Methods. Questionnaire data from 4,174 placebo- or tadalafil-treated patients with ED were analyzed. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on IIEF and SEP satisfaction questions. Spearman correlation coefficients were determined. Data from 431 of the 4,174 patients who completed EDITS questionnaires were analyzed. Logistic regression was used to investigate improvement of each IIEF satisfaction question. Results. PCA rotated on three factors explained 91% of total variance and separated IIEF Q6 (intercourse frequency) from a SEP and a remaining IIEF factor. All correlations between and among questions were close (ρ = 0.62-0.98; P < 0.0001), except for those with IIEF Q6 (ρ = 0.28-0.34; P < 0.0001). In a sub-sample, PCA of five IIEF, two SEP, and three EDITS questions identified four factors that explained 90% of all variance: EDITS questions, IIEF questions except Q6, SEP questions, and IIEF Q6. Greater improvement in IIEF-EF domain score was consistently and positively associated with satisfaction measures (P < 0.0001). Conclusions. Factor analysis detected close relationships among satisfaction questions in IIEF, SEP, and EDITS instruments, each of which, apart from IIEF Q6 (intercourse frequency), appeared to be an independent measure of satisfaction. Cultural differences may explain different satisfaction correlations with baseline ED severity in different regions. Clinicians may make use of the correlation between intercourse frequency (Q6

A multicentre, non-randomised, open-label study assessed whether personal distress caused by erectile dysfunction (ED) affected psychosocial outcomes of tadalafil treatment. Eligible Swedish men at least 18 years old reporting >= 3-month history of ED were stratified into two groups (manifest or mild/no distress) based upon a distress question administered at enrolment. Tadalafil 20 mg was taken as needed for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was the difference between the two distress groups in change from baseline in the Psychological and Interpersonal Relationship Scales (PAIRS) spontaneity domain. Secondary outcome measures were PAIRS sexual self-confidence and time concerns domains, Life Satisfaction (LiSat-11) checklist and a Global Assessment of Treatment Response. The study also assessed tolerability. Of 662 men enrolled, 88% had manifest distress and 12% had mild/no distress. Baseline-to-endpoint changes for PAIRS domains were not significantly different between groups. Baseline-to-endpoint changes in LiSat-11 items were not significantly different between groups except for satisfaction with sexual life. Compared with men without ED, below normal baseline satisfaction with partner relationship and family life were normalised at endpoint. Over 90% of men reported improved erection and ability to engage in sexual activity. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events were headache, myalgia, dyspepsia, flushing and back pain. One man discontinued because of myalgia; 630 (95%) completed the study. In conclusion, erectile distress levels vary among patients with ED and distress can affect intra-familiar aspects of life, which may have implications for clinical practise. However, distress does not appear to hinder improvement in both mechanical and psychosocial outcomes of tadalafil treatment.

Purpose. The aim of the study was to evaluate which factors are associated with the use of healthcare a long time after severe burn injury. Method. After a review process based on clinical reasoning, 69 former burn patients out of a consecutive group treated at the Uppsala Burn Unit from 1980 – 1995 were visited in their homes and their use of care and support was assessed in a semi-structured interview. Post-burn health was assessed with the Burn-Specific Health Scale-Brief (BSHS-B) and personality was assessed with the Swedish universities Scales of Personality (SSP). Results. The participants were injured on average eight years previously. Thirty-four had current contact with healthcare due to their burn injury and had significantly lower scores on three BSHS-B-domains: Simple Abilities, Work and Hand function, and significantly higher scores for the SSP-domain Neuroticism and the SSP-scales Stress Susceptibility, Lack of Assertiveness, and lower scores for Social Desirability. There was no relation to age, gender, time since injury, length of stay, or to the surface area burned. Conclusions. A routine screening of personality traits as a supplement to long-term follow-ups may help in identifying the patient's need for care.

Objectives: The objectives of this prospective study, under-taken in elderly patients with stroke undergoing rehabilita-tion, were to determine to what extent fall-related self-efficacy changes over time, its relationships to objectivelyassessed functions and activities, and the predictive capacityof self-efficacy at discharge for activities of daily living 10months after stroke. Methods: The study comprised 37 patients, aged 66–89 years.Main outcome measurement instruments were the FallsEfficacy Scale (Swedish version), Berg Balance Scale andFunctional Independence Measure. Results: Significant improvements occurred in all thesemeasures from admission to discharge, but patients with lowself-efficacy at discharge showed less pronounced improve-ments than those with high self-efficacy. Falls Efficacy Scale(Swedish version) was closely associated with all othermeasures and was a more powerful predictor of activities ofdaily living than the observer-based measures of balance. Conclusion: To minimize dependence in activities of dailyliving, rehabilitation interventions should incorporate self-efficacy enhancement.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this investigation was to identify a set of variables usable in early outcome prediction of vocational rehabilitation. DESIGN: On commencement of rehabilitation at an employability institute, data were sampled using structured interviews and checklists. Two years later the subjects were followed up by telephone interviews. SUBJECTS: The study sample was all unemployed with a somatic disorder as the cause of vocational disability, admitted from October 1995 to December 1996 (n = 149). Of these 109 (73%) agreed to participate. METHODS: Initially, data on demography, symptoms, expectations/beliefs about future capacity for gainful employment and sense of coherence (as an indicator of coping resources) were sampled. At follow-up the subjects' vocational situations were recorded. RESULTS: At follow-up, 40% were working or employable. Among the about 30 variables included, logistic regression showed that having a relatively high belief in vocational return (odds ratio, OR: 4.6, CI: 1.4-15.4), having a relatively high sense of coherence (OR: 3.5, CI: 1.5-8.4) and having a relatively high educational level (OR: 2.6, CI: 1.1-6.3) were significant predictors of positive outcome. CONCLUSION: In this sample, socio-psychological and educational aspects were far more predictive of outcome than were medical circumstances.

Background. The Burn Specific Health Scale (BSHS) is an outcome scale designed specifically for burn patients. The scale has been abbreviated (BSHS-A) and revised (BSHS-R). We used a factor analytic approach to further improve the scale for clinical use., Addresses: Gerdin B, Univ Hosp, Dept Plast Surg, Burn Unit, SE-75185 Uppsala, Sweden. Univ Hosp, Dept Plast Surg, Burn Unit, SE-75185 Uppsala, Sweden. Univ Hosp, Dept Psychol, Uppsala, Sweden. Univ Hosp, Dept Neurosci Rehabil Med, Uppsala, Sweden.

Different aspects of the quality of life before and after stroke were registered for 62 communicable, representative long-term (4-6 years) survivors, who reported the global and domain specific life satisfaction that they experienced (7 items, 6 graded-ordinal scales). Reference subjects were 60 healthy individuals in two age cohorts (60-61 years, n = 34; 79-81 years, n = 26) none of whom had been hospitalized during the last seven years prior to the investigation. The main finding is that, after the stroke, at least one aspect of the quality of life had decreased for 61% of them; this concerned global, sexual and leisure satisfaction mainly. Moreover, persisting motor impairment and ADL-disability had a negative effect on several aspects of life satisfaction. As nearly 30% of the non-impaired and the non-disabled interviewees reported decreased global life satisfaction, these changes indicate that they do not cope psychosocially with the stroke as such nor with its sequelae. In contrast, the levels of life satisfaction were similar for the 60-61 and 79-81 year-old interviewees, clinically healthy respondents, indicating stability in the quality of life that they experienced from late middle age into senectitude. For the patients, social integration estimated normatively did not covariate significantly with post-stroke satisfaction derived from social relationships., digitalisering@umu

Perceptual function was assessed in 60 clinically healthy subjects aged about 60 (n=34) and 80 (n=26), and in stroke survivors who were assessed either early (n=109) or four to six years (n=75) after the stroke. Using two indices, one characterising low-order perception and the other higher-order perception, the clinically healthy subjects invariably had no impairment in the low-order index. Slight impairments occurred in 35% of 60-year-old and 77% of 80-year-old healthy subjects. Considerably more pronounced disturbances occurred in the stroke victims, among whom about 60% had impairment or higher-order perceptual function and about 10% had low-order perceptual deficits. Thus as higher-order perception is age dependent, it appears that in rehabilitation of stroke allowance should be made for predictable signs of advancing age., digitalisering@umu