Measuring Sexual Performance: Development and Psychometric Properties of the Sexual Performance Questionnaire in Iranian People with Spinal Cord Injury

Sex Disabil, 2021 · DOI: 10.1007/s11195-020-09644-1 · Published: March 1, 2021

Spinal Cord Injury Urology Mental Health

Simple Explanation

This study developed a questionnaire to measure sexual performance in Iranian people with spinal cord injuries (SCI). It addresses a gap because sexuality is culturally sensitive and not well-researched in this population. The questionnaire, called the Sexual Performance Questionnaire (SPQ), was created with input from experts and patients with SCI. It was tested to ensure it was reliable and valid for this specific population. The SPQ assesses different aspects of sexual performance, including who initiates sexual activity (the person or their partner) and the focus on genital-oriented sex. The study found the SPQ to be a useful tool for understanding and addressing sexual health in Iranians with SCI.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

214 individuals with SCI (156 men and 58 women)

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The developed 13-item Sexual Performance Questionnaire (SPQ-SCI) is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing sexual performance in Iranian PwSCI, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.77 and an interclass correlation coefficient of 0.75.
2
Factor analysis revealed three components: Spouse as initiator, self-initiation, and genital-oriented sex, accounting for 59% of the observed variance.
3
Participants with a partner scored significantly higher on the SPQ-SCI (p = 0.001), and there was a significant negative correlation between SPQ-SCI score and age (p = 0.04, r = − 0.23).

Research Summary

The study aimed to develop and validate a culturally appropriate instrument, the Sexual Performance Questionnaire (SPQ-SCI), to measure sexual performance among Iranian people with spinal cord injuries (PwSCI). The SPQ-SCI consists of 13 items and assesses three main components: Spouse as Initiator, Self-Initiation, and Genital Sex. Psychometric testing demonstrated good reliability and validity. The SPQ-SCI can be used to identify sexual performance impairments and inform the development of culturally sensitive sexual health care interventions for PwSCI in Iran.

Practical Implications

Clinical Assessment

The SPQ-SCI provides a valuable tool for healthcare professionals to assess sexual performance in Iranian PwSCI, facilitating the identification of impairments and needs.

Intervention Development

The SPQ-SCI can inform the development of culturally sensitive sexual rehabilitation programs and sexuality education tailored to the specific needs of Iranian PwSCI.

Cultural Sensitivity

The study highlights the importance of considering cultural context when addressing sexuality, particularly in conservative cultures like Iran, and provides a framework for developing culturally appropriate measures.

Study Limitations

1
Lack of examination for convergent and known-groups validity due to time and funding issues.
2
The preliminary tests of the SPQ-SCI may not support wide generalizability until further studies are performed with a larger sample size.
3
The study relied on convenience sampling, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.

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