1. ¹Pfizer Inc Global Research and Development, Groton, CT, USA
2. ²Case Western Reserve University, Beachwood, OH, USA
3. ³Pfizer Inc New York, NY, USA
4. ⁴Shachtman Fagan, Inc., Norwalk, CT, USA

Correspondence: JC Cappelleri, Pfizer Inc Global Research and Development, MS 8260-2222, Eastern Point Road, Groton, CT 06340, USA. E-mail: joseph_c_cappelleri@groton.pfizer.com

Received 10 December 2002; Revised 26 March 2003; Accepted 30 March 2003.

Abstract

Development and validation of a patient-reported measure of psychosocial variables in men with erectile dysfunction (ED) is described. Literature review, focus groups, and medical specialists identified 86 potential items. Redundant, ambiguous, or low item-to-total correlation items were removed. Data from 98 men reporting diagnosed ED and 94 controls assisted in final item selection and psychometric evaluation. Treatment responsiveness was evaluated in 93 men with ED in a 10-week open-label trial of sildenafil citrate (Viagra^®). The 14 chosen items resolved into two domains: Sexual Relationship (eight items) and Confidence (six items), the latter comprising Self-Esteem (four items) and Overall Relationship (two items) subscales. The resulting Self-Esteem And Relationship (SEAR) questionnaire demonstrated validity and reliability. The intervention study demonstrated responsiveness to beneficial treatment with significant improvement in scores (P=0.0001). The SEAR questionnaire possesses strong psychometric properties that support its validity and reliability for measuring sexual relationship, confidence, and particularly self-esteem.