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Using cognitive interviews to evaluate items for measuring sexual functioning across cancer populations: improvements and remaining challenges.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Fortune-Greeley, AK; Flynn, KE; Jeffery, DD; Williams, MS; Keefe, FJ; Reeve, BB; Willis, GB; Weinfurt, KP; PROMIS Sexual Function Domain Committee
Published in: Qual Life Res
October 2009

PURPOSE: One goal of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) is to develop a measure of sexual functioning that broadens the definition of sexual activity and incorporates items that reflect constructs identified as important by patients with cancer. We describe how cognitive interviews improved the quality of the items and discuss remaining challenges to assessing sexual functioning in research with cancer populations. METHODS: We conducted 39 cognitive interviews of patients with cancer and survivors on the topic of sexual experience. Each of the 83 candidate items was seen by 5-24 participants. Participants included both men and women and varied by cancer type, treatment trajectory, race, and literacy level. Significantly revised items were retested in subsequent interviews. RESULTS: Cognitive interviews provided useful feedback about the relevance, sensitivity, appropriateness, and clarity of the items. Participants identified broad terms (e.g., "sex life") to assess sexual experience and exposed the challenges of measuring sexual functioning consistently, considering both adjusted and unadjusted sexual experiences. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive interviews were critical for item refinement in the development of the PROMIS measure of sexual function. Efforts are underway to validate the measure in larger cancer populations.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Qual Life Res

DOI

EISSN

1573-2649

Publication Date

October 2009

Volume

18

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1085 / 1093

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Quality of Life
  • Quality Indicators, Health Care
  • Qualitative Research
  • Psychometrics
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Fortune-Greeley, A. K., Flynn, K. E., Jeffery, D. D., Williams, M. S., Keefe, F. J., Reeve, B. B., … PROMIS Sexual Function Domain Committee. (2009). Using cognitive interviews to evaluate items for measuring sexual functioning across cancer populations: improvements and remaining challenges. Qual Life Res, 18(8), 1085–1093. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-009-9523-x
Fortune-Greeley, Alice K., Kathryn E. Flynn, Diana D. Jeffery, Megan S. Williams, Francis J. Keefe, Bryce B. Reeve, Gordon B. Willis, Kevin P. Weinfurt, and PROMIS Sexual Function Domain Committee. “Using cognitive interviews to evaluate items for measuring sexual functioning across cancer populations: improvements and remaining challenges.Qual Life Res 18, no. 8 (October 2009): 1085–93. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-009-9523-x.
Fortune-Greeley AK, Flynn KE, Jeffery DD, Williams MS, Keefe FJ, Reeve BB, et al. Using cognitive interviews to evaluate items for measuring sexual functioning across cancer populations: improvements and remaining challenges. Qual Life Res. 2009 Oct;18(8):1085–93.
Fortune-Greeley, Alice K., et al. “Using cognitive interviews to evaluate items for measuring sexual functioning across cancer populations: improvements and remaining challenges.Qual Life Res, vol. 18, no. 8, Oct. 2009, pp. 1085–93. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s11136-009-9523-x.
Fortune-Greeley AK, Flynn KE, Jeffery DD, Williams MS, Keefe FJ, Reeve BB, Willis GB, Weinfurt KP, PROMIS Sexual Function Domain Committee. Using cognitive interviews to evaluate items for measuring sexual functioning across cancer populations: improvements and remaining challenges. Qual Life Res. 2009 Oct;18(8):1085–1093.
Journal cover image

Published In

Qual Life Res

DOI

EISSN

1573-2649

Publication Date

October 2009

Volume

18

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1085 / 1093

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Quality of Life
  • Quality Indicators, Health Care
  • Qualitative Research
  • Psychometrics