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Prostate cancer and consistency of reporting sexual histories in men over age 50

Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases volume 8, pages 243–247 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

We conducted an in-person interview to examine the reliability of reported sexual histories among men over age 50 y with and without prostate cancer. Marriage and cohabitation were used as memory cues to recall sexual activity. High correlations on test–retest for questions evaluating sexual histories suggest reliable answers for most factors, and specifically for age at first sexual activity, and lifetime number of sexual partners. Low correlations were seen for ill-defined and socially undesirable items. These data suggest that men consistently report most measures of sexual activity when using marriage and cohabitation as memory cues to recall sexual histories.

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Acknowledgements

This study received financial support from the Ireland Cancer Center of Case Western Reserve University and University Hospital of Cleveland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA

    L K Dennis

  2. Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA

    J M Ritchie

  3. Department of Urology, University Hospitals and School of Medicine at Case Western Reserve, University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    M I Resnick

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  1. L K Dennis
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  2. J M Ritchie
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Correspondence to L K Dennis.

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Dennis, L., Ritchie, J. & Resnick, M. Prostate cancer and consistency of reporting sexual histories in men over age 50. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 8, 243–247 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.pcan.4500810

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.pcan.4500810

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