Validation of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIFE) for use in Brazil - Abstract

BACKGROUND: The International Index of Erectile Function has been proposed as a method for assessing sexual function assisting the diagnosis and classification of erectile dysfunction.

However, IIEF was not validated for the Portuguese language.

OBJECTIVE: Validate the International Index of Erectile Function in patients with cardiopulmonary and metabolic diseases.

METHODS: The sample consisted of 108 participants of to Cardiopulmonary and Metabolic program Rehabilitation (CPMR) in southern Brazil. The clarity assessment of the instrument was performed using a scale ranging from zero to 10. The construct validity was carried out by confirmatory factor analysis (KMO = 0.85; Barllet p < 0.001), internal consistency by Cronbach's alpha and reproducibility and interrater reliability via the test retest method.

RESULTS: The items were considered very clear with averages superior to 9. The internal consistency resulted in 0.89. The majority of items related correctly with their domains, with exception of three questions from sexual satisfaction domain, and one from erectile function. All items showed excellent stability of measure and substantial to almost perfect agreement.

CONCLUSION: The present study showed that the IIEF is valid and reliable for use in participants of a cardiopulmonary and metabolic rehabilitation program.

Written by:
Gonzáles AI, Sties SW, Wittkopf PG, Mara LS, Ulbrich AZ, Cardoso FL, Carvalho TD.   Are you the author?
Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil.

Reference: Arq Bras Cardiol. 2013 Aug;101(2):176-182.
doi: 10.5935/abc.20130141


PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23842798

Article in English, Portuguese.

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