Treatment responsiveness of the Self-Esteem And Relationship questionnaire in erectile dysfunction.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the treatment responsiveness of the disease-specific Self-Esteem And Relationship (SEAR) questionnaire in erectile dysfunction.


METHODS
The SEAR questionnaire was administered at baseline and at the end of the study in 93 patients with erectile dysfunction enrolled in a 10-week, open-label, flexible-dose (50-mg sildenafil, adjustable to 25 mg or 100 mg) trial. Changes from the baseline score were analyzed using the paired t test. The correlation between the changes from baseline on the SEAR questionnaire and the Erectile Function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function was examined.


RESULTS
Significant and meaningful differences (P = 0.0001) from baseline were observed in the two primary domains (Sexual Relationship and Confidence) and the two Confidence domain subscales (Self-Esteem and Overall Relationship). The magnitude of the change was quite high for most aspects (Sexual Relationship, effect size [ES] = 1.6; Confidence, ES = 1.0; Self-Esteem, ES = 1.1) and moderate for one (Overall Relationship, ES = 0.6). Changes in Erectile Function domain score correlated moderately with changes in the SEAR domain and subscale scores (Sexual Relationship, r = 0.69; Confidence, r = 0.48; Self-Esteem, r = 0.47; and Overall Relationship, r = 0.35; P <or=0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The SEAR questionnaire is responsive to effective treatment of erectile dysfunction. These data suggest that the SEAR questionnaire is a valid instrument for detecting psychosocial gains from beneficial intervention.
Case Western Reserve University, Beachwood, Ohio 44122, USA.
Stanley E
SE
Althof
Joseph C
JC
Cappelleri
Arkady
A
Shpilsky
Vera
V
Stecher
Caryn
C
Diuguid
Michael
M
Sweeney
Sandeep
S
Duttagupta
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity / Q000639:trends; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011687:Purines; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate