Reliability and validity of the sexual life quality questionnaire (SLQQ)

The sexual life quality questionnaire (SLQQ) was developed to evaluate sexual quality of life (QOL) and satisfaction with treatments for erectile dysfunction among patients and their sexual partners. This paper describes the development of the instrument and reports its psychometric properties as observed in two studies involving patients under treatment for erectile dysfunction. The instrument consists of 16 items, 10 of which deal with dimensions of sexual QOL that can be summed to a sexual QOL scale measure. The remaining six items comprise a scale measuring satisfaction with treatment dimensions. The composite sexual QOL and treatment satisfaction scales met established psychometric goals overall and within select subgroups (length of time quartiles, patient/partner). A significant correlation between the treatment satisfaction scale score and the patients' responses to a question asking their likelihood of selecting the method for continued treatment (r: 0.89) showed the measure to be a good indicator of treatment preference. Finally, there were significant differences in sexual QOL scale scores between screening and first treatment, indicating the instrument was responsive and able to detect changes in sexual QOL.