Evaluation of a Swedish version of the Watts Sexual Function Questionnaire (WSFQ) in persons with heart disease: A pilot study

Received 6 May 2009; received in revised form 10 December 2009; accepted 15 December 2009. published online 13 January 2010.
Corrected Proof

Abstract

Background

As part of preparation for a Swedish multicentre study, exploring sexual and married life in patients with myocardial infarction and their partners, a Swedish validated instrument was required.

Aims

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of a Swedish version of the Watts Sexual Function Questionnaire (WSFQ) among persons with a heart disease.

Methods

A convenience sample of 79 persons (47 men and 32 women) living with a heart disease was recruited from the members of the National Association of Heart and Lung Patients. They completed a Swedish version of the WSFQ on two occasions.

Results

Two separate factor analyses each revealed a two-factor structure on both occasions: “Sexual appetite” and “Sexual expectations” with gender-neutral questions and “Sexual sensitiveness” and “Sexual ability” with gender-specific questions. Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranged from 0.48 to 0.86 and test–retest values for all but one question exceeded 0.70.

Conclusions

The Swedish version of the WSFQ showed good validity and stability and acceptable internal homogeneity. Extended evaluations of the questionnaire are recommended.

Keywords: Heart disease, Watts Sexual Function Questionnaire, Validity, Reliability

a Department of Caring Science and Sociology, University of Gävle, SE-801 76 Gävle, Sweden

b Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Section of Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

c Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Nursing Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden

d Department of Cardiology, Linköping Heart Centre, Linköping University Hospital, Sweden

e Molde University College, Faculty of Health Sciences, Molde, Norway

f Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden

g Department of Cardiology, Örebro University Hospital and School of Health and Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden

h General Practice and Public Health, Halland County Council, Falkenberg, Sweden

i School of Health Sciences and Social Work, Växjö University, Växjö, Sweden

j School of Health Sciences, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden

k Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care and Centre for Health Care Sciences, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden

l School of Social and Health Sciences, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden

m Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Lund University Hospital and Lund University, Lund, Sweden

Corresponding author. Tel.: +46 26 64 82 42; fax: +46 26 64 82 35.

PII: S1474-5151(09)00167-4

doi:10.1016/j.ejcnurse.2009.12.004