From: Management of sexual dysfunction in breast cancer survivors: a systematic review
 | Assessment descriptiona | Scoring rubric |
---|---|---|
5-item scale measuring sexual drive, arousal, vaginal lubrication, orgasm, and satisfaction | • 6-point Likert scale (1 – 6); total score 5 – 30 | |
• Higher scores indicate greater sexual dysfunction. | ||
• Score > 19 indicates sexual dysfunction. | ||
Body Image Relationships Scale (BIRS) [70] | 11-item Appearance and Sexuality Subscale measuring satisfaction with sexual activity, physical appearance, and body image | • 5-point scale (1 – 5); total score 11 – 55 |
• Higher scores indicate greater impairment. | ||
Cancer Rehabilitation Evaluation System (CARES) [71] | Includes 4-item Sexual Interest, 4-item Sexual Function, and 18-item Marital Issues Subscales | • 5-point scale (0 – 4) |
• Higher scores indicate greater impairment. | ||
Changes of Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CFSQ) [72] | Includes 3-item Desire/Interest, and 2-item Frequency/Pleasure Subscales | • 5-point Likert scale (1 – 5); total score 5 – 25 |
• Higher scores indicate lesser impairment. | ||
Derogatis Inventory of Sexual Functioning (DISF-SR) [73] | 4-item subscale measuring sexual drive and relationship satisfaction | • 5- or 9-point scale (depending on item) |
• Higher scores indicate less impairment. | ||
EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ) Breast Cancer Module [74] | 23-item Sexual Function and Body Image Subscales measuring breast cancer therapy side effects | • 4-point rating scale; total score 0 – 100 (after linear transformation) |
• Higher scores indicate less impairment. | ||
Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) [75] | 19-item scale measuring sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain | • 6-point Likert scale (0 – 5); total score 0 – 36 |
• Higher scores indicate better sexual function. | ||
• Score < 26.5 suggests sexual dysfunction. | ||
Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) [76] | 18-item Endocrine Symptoms Subscale (FACT-ES) measuring hormone-related/ menopausal symptoms of breast cancer | • Total score 0 – 72 |
• Higher scores indicate fewer symptoms. | ||
Marital Intimacy Questionnaire [77] | 8-item scale measuring marital intimacy | • 4-point Likert scale (1 – 4); total score 8 – 32 |
• Higher scores indicate less impairment. | ||
Medical Outcomes Study [78] | 4-item Sexual Functioning Subscale measuring sexual dysfunction symptoms | • 6-point Likert scale (1 – 6) • Higher scores indicate more symptoms. |
Menopausal Sexual Interest Questionnaire (MSIQ) [79] | 10-item Sexual Satisfaction Subscale measuring desire, responsiveness, and satisfaction in postmenopausal women | • 7-point Likert scale (1-7); total score 10 - 70 • Higher scores indicate less impairment. |
Menopausal Symptom Score [80] | Adapted 7-item scale measuring study-specific menopausal symptoms | • 5-point Likert scale (0 – 4); total score 0 – 28 |
• Higher scores indicate more symptoms. | ||
Profile of Female Sexual Function (PFSF) [81] | 37-item scale measuring sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, pleasure, concerns, responsiveness, and self-image | • 5-point Likert scale (1 – 5); total score 0 – 100 (after linear transformation) |
• Higher scores indicate less impairment. | ||
Psychological Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS) [82] | 46-item clinical interview with Sexual Relationships (PAIS-SR) and Sexual Problems Subscales measuring psychological and social adjustment to illness | • 4-point scale (0 – 3) |
• Higher scores indicate poorer adjustment. | ||
• Score < 35 = good; 35-51 = fair; > 51 = poor | ||
Quality of Marriage Index (QMI) [83] | 6-item scale measuring marital quality | • 7-point bipolar scale (1 – 7); total score 6 – 42 |
• Higher scores indicate better quality of marriage. | ||
Study-Specific Scales [50] | Study-specific scales measuring frequency of sexual desire, intercourse, masturbation, orgasm, initiative for sex, and relationship satisfaction | • Higher scores indicate less impairment. |
Study-Specific Scales [51] | Study-specific items measuring sexual satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, dyspareunia, and comfort with sexuality | • 5- or 6-point Likert scale (depending on item) |
• Higher scores indicate less impairment. | ||
Sexual Activity Questionnaire (SAQ) [84] | 10-item scale with 3 main subscales measuring: Pleasure (SAQ-P; desire, enjoyment, satisfaction), Discomfort (SAQ-D; vaginal dryness, dyspareunia), Habit Subscale (SAQ-H; frequency) | • 4-point Likert scale (0 – 3); total score 0 – 24 |
• Higher scores indicate less impairment. | ||
Sexual Desire Subscale of Brief Index of Sexual Function (BISF) [85] | Includes 8-item Sexual Desire and 9-item Sexual Arousal Subscales | • 6- or 7-point Likert scale (0 – 5 or 0 – 6) |
• Higher scores indicate less impairment. | ||
Sexual Dysfunction Scale [57] | 25-item study-specific scale with 3 subscales measuring: Behavioral (vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, and frequency), Evaluative (interest, arousal, and satisfaction), Body image (sense of attractiveness, impact of weight change and hair loss) | • Total score 0 – 100 |
• Higher scores indicate less impairment. | ||
Sexual Function Subscale of Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS) [86] | 21-item scale with 4 subscales measuring: Vasomotor Symptoms (2 items), Somatic Symptoms (7 items; headaches and muscle/joint pains), Psychological Symptoms (11 items), Sexual Function (1 item; sexual interest) | • 4-point scale (0 – 3); total score 0 – 6 (vasomotor), 0 – 21 (somatic), 0 – 33 (psychological), 0 – 3 sexual function; combined total score 0 – 63 |
• Higher scores indicate more symptoms. | ||
Sexual Problems Frequency [45] | Adapted subscale from BIRS measuring frequency of sexual problems | • 5-point Likert scale (0 – 4) |
• Higher scores indicate greater impairment. | ||
Study-specific items measuring relational sexual satisfaction for male and female partners | • Higher scores indicate less impairment. | |
Sexual Satisfaction Scale (SSS) [88] | 17-item study-specific scale measuring sexual satisfaction among Korean women | • 4-point Likert scale (1 – 4); total score 17 – 68 |
• Higher scores indicate less impairment. | ||
Sexual Self Schema Scale [89] | 50- item, trait-adjectives scale measuring women’s sexual self-perception | • 7-point Likert scale (0 – 6) |
• Higher scores indicate better self-perception. | ||
Visual Analog Scale for Vaginal Dryness and Dyspareunia [29] | Linear rating scale measuring vaginal dryness and pain | • 10-point scale (0 – 10) |
• High scores indicate greater impairment. | ||
Adapted 3-item scale measuring vaginal dryness, itching/irritation, dyspareunia | • 4-point Likert scale (0 – 3); total score 0 – 9 | |
• Higher scores indicate greater impairment. | ||
Study-specific items measuring vaginal dryness, vaginal itching, and dyspareunia | • 5- or 10-point Likert scale (depending on study) | |
• Higher scores indicate greater impairment. | ||
6-parameter gynecological examination rating appearance of vaginal mucosa | • Score of 1 to 5; total score 6 – 30 | |
• Higher index indicates healthier appearance. | ||
Gynecological examination determining vaginal atrophy | • Score of 0 – 100 (%) | |
• Higher scores indicate less vaginal atrophy. | ||
• A score of < 50 indicates vaginal atrophy. | ||
Study-specific scale measuring severity of vaginal atrophy | • 5-point Likert scale (0 – 4) | |
• Higher scores indicate more symptoms. |