A Study on the Validity of a Single-Item Question Concerning Sexual Satisfaction as a Screening Tool for Erectile Dysfunction in Primary Care

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite its high prevalence and importance in terms of one's quality of life, male sexual dysfunction has been ignored. This study is intended to evaluate the validity of a single-item question concerning sexual satisfaction as a screening tool for assessing patients' erectile dysfunction in primary care. METHODS: The male patients, who visited the department of family medicine from May to July of 2002, were required to fill out a questionnaire in order to assess their sexual satisfaction. Sexual dysfunction was examined through the erectile function (IIEF-5) questionnaire. The questionnaire on sexual satisfaction was evaluated to determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for erectile dysfunction in 299 subjects. RESULTS: The prevalence of erectile dysfunction was 41.5% in patients aged over 40. The ratio of sexual unsatisfaction was 35.8%, and the sensitivity and specificity of this response were 0.609 and 0.799, respectively. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction demonstrated a significant correlation with increasing age (P<0.001), but was not influenced by body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, and exercise. Diabetes mellitus was a risk factor of erectile dysfunction, but patients' personal medical history such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and prostatic hypertrophy were not related to sexual dysfunction. CONCLUSION: The single-item question concerning overall sexual satisfaction may be a useful screening tool for assessing erectile dysfunction.