Male Sexual Health Questionnaire (MSHQ): scale development and psychometric validation

Abstract

Objectives: To validate a new, self-administered questionnaire for assessing key domains of sexual function and satisfaction in aging men with urogenital health concerns.

Methods: The initial items were identified by patient interviews, review of current reports, and expert panel solicitation. The resulting 25-item questionnaire was subjected to psychometric evaluation and refinement using two discriminant validity studies in aging men with urogenital symptoms compared with age-matched controls. Psychometric tests of reliability, discriminant, and criterion validity were performed.

Results: Qualitative testing revealed adequate comprehension and content validity of the initial item set. Two domains of sexual function (ejaculation, erection) were identified in the first discriminant validity study, each of which showed a high degree of internal consistency (alpha = 0.81 and alpha = 0.90, respectively) and test-retest reliability (r = 0.86 and r = 0.87, respectively). Both sexual function domains discriminated well between men with and without urogenital manifestations of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and sexual dysfunction (P <0.001). An additional domain of sexual satisfaction was added in the second validation study, with similarly high internal consistency (alpha = 0.90) and test-retest reliability (r = 0.88). Tests of convergent and divergent validity, including correlations with standardized scales for depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depressed Mood Scale), sexual function (International Index of Erectile Function), and life satisfaction (Fugl-Meyer), confirmed the criterion validity of the new measure.

Conclusions: The Male Sexual Health Questionnaire assesses sexual function and satisfaction in older men with urogenital symptoms of LUTS and sexual dysfunction. This new instrument has excellent psychometric properties and is well suited for use in clinical and research settings.