title: Female Sexual Function Index Short Version: A MsFLASH Item Response Analysis.
abstract: The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) is a psychometrically sound and popular 19-item self-report measure, but its length may preclude its use in studies with multiple outcome measures, especially when sexual function is not a primary endpoint. Only one attempt has been made to create a shorter scale, resulting in the Italian FSFI-6, later translated into Spanish and Korean without further psychometric analysis. Our study evaluated whether a subset of items on the 19-item English-language FSFI would perform as well as the full-length FSFI in peri- and postmenopausal women. We used baseline data from 898 peri- and postmenopausal women recruited from multiple communities, ages 42-62 years, and enrolled in randomized controlled trials for vasomotor symptom management. Goals were to (1) create a psychometrically sound, shorter version of the FSFI for use in peri- and postmenopausal women as a continuous measure and (2) compare it to the Italian FSFI-6. Results indicated that a 9-item scale provided more information than the FSFI-6 across a spectrum of sexual functioning, was able to capture sample variability, and showed sufficient range without floor or ceiling effects. All but one of the items from the Italian 6-item version were included in the 9-item version. Most omitted FSFI items focused on frequency of events or experiences. When assessment of sexual function is a secondary endpoint and subject burden related to questionnaire length is a priority, the 9-item FSFI may provide important information about sexual function in English-speaking peri- and postmenopausal women.
authors: Department of Science of Nursing Care, School of Nursing, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA. carpentj@iu.edu.|School of Nursing, Indiana University, 600 Barnhill Drive NU 340G, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA. carpentj@iu.edu.
authors: Janet S
authors: 0000-0003-3988-8855
authors: JS
authors: Carpenter
authors: Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: Salene M W
authors: SM
authors: Jones
authors: Department of Health Behavior, College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
authors: Christina R
authors: CR
authors: Studts
authors: Psychological & Brain Sciences, The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
authors: Julia R
authors: JR
authors: Heiman
authors: Departments of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Epidemiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: Susan D
authors: SD
authors: Reed
authors: Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: Katherine M
authors: KM
authors: Newton
authors: Data Coordinating Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: Katherine A
authors: KA
authors: Guthrie
authors: Data Coordinating Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: Joseph C
authors: JC
authors: Larson
authors: Center for Women's Mental Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Lee S
authors: LS
authors: Cohen
authors: Departments of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors: Ellen W
authors: EW
authors: Freeman
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Jane Lau
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors: Lee A
authors: LA
authors: Learman
authors: Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Jan L
authors: JL
authors: Shifren
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D057566:Self Report; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014175:Translating
keywords: Female Sexual Function Index; Menopause; Psychometrics