¹Department of Psychiatry, Division of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry, Ankara University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

Correspondence: A Soykan, Yesilyurt Sok. No. 23/6, Asagi Ayranci, Ankara, Turkey. E-mail: Asoykan@pol.net

Received 13 January 2004; Revised 14 April 2004; Accepted 7 May 2004; Published online 3 June 2004.

Abstract

Although sexuality was the fifth most important life stressor cited by dialysis patients, sexual dysfunctions (SD) receive a very limited attention in the follow-up of these patients. The main aim of the present study was to investigate the reliability and validity of the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX) for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) in Turkey. The instrument's reliability and validity were assessed in 43 ESRD outpatients undergoing dialysis. All patients were assessed at baseline and at 6 months. ASEX showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's 's 0.89 and 0.90) and test–retest reliability (r=0.88, P<0.001). Convergent validity of ASEX was measured by means of the scales' correlation with the psychiatrists' assessment for the presence of SD (r=0.53, P<0.001). The results of receiver operating characteristics analysis for criterion validity revealed that ASEX scores could discriminate well (0.850.06 (95% confidence interval, 0.73–0.90), P<0.001) between patients with 'no SD (n=26)' and 'with SD (n=17)'. A total ASEX score of 11 was found to be the best cutoff point (sensitivity=100%, specificity=52%) for screening in this group of patients. The findings of this study indicate that the ASEX is a valid and reliable instrument for use in clinical trials on sexual functioning of ESRD patients undergoing HD.