12-item Version Research Articles

A primer on the restorative therapies for erectile dysfunction: a narrative review.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common condition that affects millions worldwide. Patients and urologists alike are seeking alternative therapies that can provide long-lasting results in the treatment of ED. This review provides a comprehensive overview of restorative treatments available for ED, such as platelet-rich plasma, stem cell therapy, and shockwave therapy. The aim of this narrative review is to provide a primer for urologists and general practitioners on the basics of implementing ED restorative therapies in their practice. The PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar databases were searched for articles in the English language through August 31, 2023, that included key terms such as "erectile dysfunction," "restorative therapy," "shockwave therapy," "platelet-rich plasma," "stem cell therapy," and "stromal vascular fraction." Reference lists of selected studies were manually reviewed to find articles not identified by the initial database search. Shockwave therapy has demonstrated effectiveness in treating ED, with devices like the Medispec ED1000 and Storz Duolith showing statistically significant improvements in patient scores for International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-Erectile Function scores in clinical trials. In reported studies of platelet-rich plasma injections, a substantial percentage of patients reached a minimal clinically important difference in the IIEF-Erectile Function scale after treatment. Studies of ED treatment with stem cell therapy, while limited and with small sample sizes, have demonstrated encouraging improvements in patient scores for the abridged 5-item version of the IIEF after treatment. Shockwave, platelet-rich plasma, and stem cell therapies are important, novel, noninvasive restorative treatments for ED that can provide relief for patients wishing to avoid a more invasive approach. While these therapies have shown promising results in clinical trials, more research is required to establish them as standardized and efficacious options in the management of ED.

Development and validation of an 8-item version of the Real Relationship Inventory–Client form

Objective: To develop and validate a very brief version of the 24-item Real Relationship Inventory–Client (RRI-C) form. Method: Two independent samples of individual psychotherapy patients (Nsample 1 = 700, Nsample 2 = 434) completed the RRI-C along with other measures. Psychometric scale shortening involved exploratory factor analysis, item response theory analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and multigroup CFA. Reliability and convergent and discriminant validity of the scale and subscales were also assessed. Results: The 8-item RRI-C (RRI-C-SF) preserves the two-factor structure: Genuineness (k = 4, α = .86) and Realism (k = 4, α = .87), which were correlated at r = .74. CFA provided the following fit indices for the bifactor model: X 2/df = 2.16, CFI = .99, TLI = .96, RMSEA = .07, and SRMR = .03. Multigroup CFA showed that the RRI-C-SF was invariant across in-person and remote session formats. The RRI-C-SF demonstrated high reliability (α = .91); high correlation with the full-length scale (r = .96); and excellent convergent and discriminant validity with measures of other elements of the therapeutic relationship, personality characteristics, current mental health state, and demographic-clinical variables. Clinical change benchmarks were calculated to serve as valuable tools for both research and clinical practice. Conclusion: The RRI-C-SF is a reliable measure that can be used for both research and clinical purposes. It enables a nuanced assessment of the genuineness and the realism dimensions of the real relationship.

Construction and validation of a scale for assessing critical social justice attitudes.

Two large studies (combined n = 5,878) set out to construct and validate a scale for assessing critical social justice attitudes. Studies assessed the reliability, factor structure, model fit, and both convergent and divergent validity of the scale. Studies also examined the prevalence of critical social justice attitudes in different populations and the scale's correlations with other variables of interest, including well-being variables: anxiety, depression, and happiness. Participants for Study 1 (n = 848) were university faculty and students, as well as non-academic adults, from Finland. Participants responded to a survey about critical social justice attitudes. Twenty one candidate items were devised for an initial item pool, on which factor analyses were conducted, resulting in a 10-item pilot version of critical social justice attitude scales (CSJAS). Participants for Study 2 were a nationwide sample (n = 5,030) aged 15-84 from Finland. Five new candidate items were introduced, of which two were included in the final, seven-item, version of CSJAS. The final CSJAS scale had high reliability (α = 0.87, ω = 0.88) and a good model fit (comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.99, TLI = 0.99, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.04, standardized root mean residual [SRMR] = 0.01, χ2 (14, 5024) = 132.8 (p < 0.001)) as well as convergent and divergent validity. Overall, the study sample rejected critical social justice propositions, with strong rejection from men. Women expressed more than twice as much support for the propositions (d = 1.20). In both studies, CSJAS was correlated with depression, anxiety, and (lack of) happiness, but not more so than being on the political left was. The critical social justice attitude scale was successfully constructed and validated. It had good reliability and model fit.

Validation and invariance of an Individual Work Performance Questionnaire (IWPQ-P) in Peruvian Nurses

Background: Performance evaluation is essential to ensure quality healthcare services, especially in the field of nursing. Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the factorial structure, reliability, and invariance by sex and age of the work performance scale in Peruvian nurses. Methods: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to evaluate the internal structure of the scale, and psychometric properties including reliability and convergent validity were determined. Additionally, factorial invariance was evaluated according to participants' sex and age. Results: The CFA supported the structure of three factors (Task Performance, Counterproductive Behaviors, Contextual Performance) and showed adequate and stable psychometric properties for a 12-item version (: χ2 = 231.09, df = 78; CFI = 0.97, TLI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.06 (90% CI: 0.05-0.06), and SRMR = 0.03). Strict factorial invariance was demonstrated for both sex and age, and adequate internal consistency was found for each dimension, as well as convergent validity. Conclusions: The work performance scale, in its 12-item version (IWPQ-P), is a valid and reliable measure for evaluating work performance in Peruvian nurses. Its factorial invariance by sex and age makes it a useful tool for future research and practical applications in nursing performance evaluation.

Association between erectile dysfunction and subjective well-being in primary care patients with type 2 diabetes.

To assess the association between erectile dysfunction and subjective well-being among primary care patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This cross-sectional study included 340 men with type 2 diabetes treated in primary health care settings in the Ismailia governorate between April 2021 and April 2022. A multistage random cluster sampling technique was used. Sociodemographic data, disease characteristics, lifestyle, surgical and sexual history, and the Arabic translations of the abridged 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) Questionnaire, and the 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5) were gathered. Erectile dysfunction was identified in 72.94% of diabetic patients, with 55% mild or mild-to-moderate (ED I), and 17.9% moderate or severe (ED II). Twenty percent had Poor subjective well-being, with a mean WHO-5 index of 63.4 (± 15.4). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that education, diabetes duration, insufficient income, dyslipidemia, benign prostate hyperplasia, and IIEF-5 score were significantly associated with poor subjective well-being. Increasing IIEF-5 score was significantly associated with a 22% decrease in the odds of poor subjective well-being (OR: 0.78; 95% CI 0.66-0.93). Multinomial regression analysis showed that increasing score of the WHO-5 well-being index was associated with a 11% and 14% reduction in the odds of ED I and II, respectively (OR: 0.89 (95% CI 0.86-0.93), and 0.86 (95% CI 0.81-0.92), respectively). Erectile dysfunction and subjective well-being were interrelated. Early detection of erectile dysfunction is essential for improving the positive mental health of men with type 2 diabetes in primary care.

Comparison of the 12-item and 36-item versions of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0 using longitudinal data from community mental health outreach service users.

This study aimed to compare the 12-item and 36-item versions of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0 using longitudinal data from community mental health outreach service users. Using data from Tokorozawa City mental health outreach service users in Japan, total and domain WHODAS-12 and WHODAS-36 scores were compared. First, we examined score-change differences by domain at the start of outreach services (T1) and 1 year later (T2) for each version. Next, we compared differences between the two versions using Pearson's correlation, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and Bland-Altman analysis. Among 20 participants, total scores and scores of some domains (i.e., cognition, getting along, life activities, and participation) were significantly lower at T2 than at T1 on both versions (p < 0.010). WHODAS-36 scores were significantly lower at T2 than at T1 for the self-care domain (p = 0.018). Except for self-care, strong correlations were found between scores from the two versions (p < 0.001). In the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Bland-Altman analysis, we found significant differences between the scores of the two versions in the mobility, self-care, and participation domains. There were no significant differences in the distribution or systematic errors between the two versions in scores for the other domains or total score. We found strong positive correlations between WHODAS-12 and WHODAS-36 total scores with no statistical differences between them. For some domains, differences in distribution and systematic errors were found.

Validation of the 5-item workplace outcome suite on employee assistance programs for office workers

To evaluate the effectiveness of Employee Assistance Program (EAP) interventions, the Workplace Outcome Suite (WOS) was developed. This study aims to determine if the new WOS 5-item version can be used to approximate the WOS 25-item version without excessive loss of reliability, validity, or sensitivity. A quantitative psychometric evaluation study design was employed. Secondary data analysis of the WOS 25-item questionnaire was conducted before and after EAP services were delivered to participants. This analysis used 2046 data responses from 1023 participants. Quantitative data analysis included descriptive statistics, Cohen’s d, paired t-test, the Wilcoxon signed-rank (non-parametric test), and bivariate factor analysis. Findings demonstrate that the WOS 5-item version can successfully detect changes in workplace functioning. Within all five constructs, users’ scores improved after EAP interventions, indicating improvement in mental health. Significant changes were detected for absenteeism, presenteeism, work engagement, and workplace distress. Bivariate correlation results indicate the WOS 5-item is a good representation of the 25-item version. There are strong correlations between each item on the WOS-5 and the corresponding items in each construct on the WOS-25. This evidence suggests the WOS 5-item version can be used to approximate the WOS 25-item version without excessive loss of reliability, validity, or sensitivity.

Intuitive eating: Validation of a brief Italian version of IES-2 for university students and its relationship with food intake

Intuitive eating is an adaptive eating style referring to a set of eating behaviors characterized by reliance on internal hunger and satiety cues rather than situational and emotional cues. It has four dimensions: Unconditional Permission to Eat, Eating for Physical rather than Emotional Reasons, Reliance on Hunger and Satiety Cues, and Body-Food Choice Congruence. Two studies explored the psychometric characteristics of a new Italian version of the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2) among university students. Study 1 (n = 462; Mage = 22.36, SD = 2.10; 58.7 % females) evaluated the four-factor structure via CFA, resulting, with post-hoc modifications, in a 15-item version. Measurement invariance across gender, gender differences, and relationships with BMI were tested. Study 2 (n = 359; Mage = 20.35, SD = 1.77; 61.8 % females) verified the construct validity of the 15-item scale and explored criterion validity by examining the correlations with self-esteem, well-being, emotional, external, and restrained eating styles. Furthermore, the relationship between intuitive eating and food intake was explored. Overall results confirmed the four-factor structure, measurement invariance across gender, and criterion validity. The scale showed good psychometric properties in university students. Intuitive eating was associated with a healthier psychological status and lower risk of high-weight status, but it was not consistently associated with all markers of a healthy diet.

Reliability and validity of the Brazilian version of the world health organization disability assessment schedule (WHODAS 2.0) questionnaire for women with urinary incontinence

Purpose To analyze the reliability and validity of the WHODAS 2.0 instrument for women with urinary incontinence (UI). Methods This is a methodological study with Brazilian women with complaints of urge, stress or mixed UI, over 18 years old, without cognitive disorders. The WHODAS 2.0 (36-item version) and the auxiliary instruments were applied through face-to-face and telephone interviews after 7–14 d. The psychometric properties evaluated were: Cronbach’s alpha for internal consistency, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for intra-rater test-retest, Spearman’s correlation coefficient (rho) for construct validity of WHODAS 2.0 with auxiliary instruments; and ANOVA for discriminative validity with UI severity. Results 101 women with UI with a mean age of 50.71 ± 10.39 were included. WHODAS 2.0 showed good reliability in all domains and excellent reliability in the total score (>0.80). The intra-evaluator test-retest showed ICC values between 0.59 and 0.87 (p < 0.001). We observed a positive correlation between the WHODAS 2.0 domains and the instruments recommended by International Continence Society (ICS), with greater emphasis on moderate correlation with the Urinary Impact Questionnaire (IUQ-7) subscale (rho = 0.730 p < 0.001). Conclusion The WHODAS 2.0 instrument is a reliable and valid questionnaire for investigating the functioning and disability of women with UI.

Individual differences in environmental sensitivity: associations between cognitive emotion regulation and mental health.

Environmental sensitivity is defined as the ability to perceive and process internal and external information. Previous studies have suggested that mental health-related factors differ by sensitivity level. This study aimed to investigate whether environmental sensitivity moderates the associations between cognitive emotion regulation strategies (e.g., rumination and blaming others) and mental health. In this three-wave longitudinal study, participants (N = 1,233, 585, and 349 at Times 1, 2, and 3, respectively) completed the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire-short and Kessler 10 scale at all the measurement points as well as the 10-item version of the Highly Sensitive Person scale and some covariates only at Time 1. Latent growth model analyses indicated that the blaming others strategy had contrastive effects on changes in mental health by sensitivity level; the increase in refocusing on planning was associated with improved mental health over time only for highly sensitive individuals; and the rumination and catastrophizing strategies were the most important risk factors for mental health problems, although their effects differed slightly by sensitivity level. The associations between some of the cognitive strategies and mental health differ by environmental sensitivity level. Future investigations based on individual differences in sensitivity could provide innovative insights into practices.

The Sociodemographic Factors Related to Disability of Applicants of Welfare Benefits in Greece: A Cross-Sectional Survey Based on the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0.

The aim of the present study was to report on the prevalence of disability and its association with sociodemographic factors among welfare benefit applicants in Greece. The study alsocompared the disability scores between different health conditions using the WHODAS 2.0 (12-item version), a biopsychosocial-model-based measure. The Greek WHODAS 2.0, 12-item version, was administered by interview. A three-member medical committee assessed the medical records of the applicants and assigned a disability percentage based on the biomedical measure of disability percentage determination (Barema scale). The majority of the participants were female (56.65%). Certain health conditions were presented more frequently among welfare benefit applicants (mental health disorders and neoplasms). The domains with the highest rate of difficulty were the "participation" and "life activities" domains. Significant differences were found between WHODAS 2.0 and Barema scores for all eight different health condition categories. The factorial ANOVA (8x2) showed a significant interaction effect between health condition category and gender with respect to the WHODAS 2.0 score (F = 19.033, p <.001, η2 = 0.13). The WHODAS 2.0 score was negatively correlated to gender, years of studies, and marital status and positively correlated to age, working status, and the Barema score. The results revealed that male participants with a partner who were younger, had more studies, were actively working, and had a lower Barema score would have lower WHODAS scores. Sociodemographic characteristics of welfare benefit applicants are associated with disability levels based on WHODAS 2.0. Certain health conditions, like mental health or neuromusculoskeletal conditions, are associated with higher disability scores. There are differences between the biopsychosocial and the biomedical approaches to disability assessment. The implementation of WHODAS 2.0 may contribute to a better understanding of the lived experience of patients and is a feasible and efficient tool. Combining biomedical and biopsychosocial approaches may enhance the procedures of disability assessment and help in the development of policies that support people with disabilities.

Reliability and Validity of a Turkish Version of the 5-Item Future Anxiety Scale.

The aim of this study was to adapt the short version of the Future Anxiety (FA) Scale (FAS) into Turkish and to assess its validity and reliability. This study comprised 3 stages. The first stage of the study assessed the scale's linguistic validity. The second stage assessed the scale's factor structure, criterion validity, and reliability. The third stage assessed the scale's structural validity, and cross-checked its validity and reliability. In addition, a test-retest was conducted with a 2-week interval to assess the reliability of the scale. The FAS adapted into Turkish has a 5-item and 1-factor structure, consistent with the short version of the FAS. The Turkish version of the FAS was found to be a valid and reliable measurement tool. The 5-item version of the FAS was translated and adapted into Turkish. The Turkish version of the FAS will be useful for Turkish researchers who want to conduct quantitative research on FA.

Impact of low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy on vascular parameters and sexual function in patients with arteriogenic erectile dysfunction.

Previous published studies have shown an improvement of penile hemodynamic parameters after low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy (Li-ESWT). However, the clinical significance of these findings remains unclear, and definitive selection criteria for Li-ESWT based on preexisting comorbidities have yet to be established. This was an observational study of 113 patients with ED, evaluated between January 2019 and December 2021 in Andrology Unit at the Department of Urology and Renal Transplantation, University of Foggia (Foggia, Italy). Penile dynamic Doppler was performed to evaluate vascular parameters and 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Dysfunction (IIEF-5) questionnaire was administered to assess the severity of ED. This was repeated 1 month after treatment. Patients with a peak systolic velocity (PSV) <30 cm s -1 were considered eligible for Li-ESWT. Our protocol consisted of 8 weekly sessions with 1500 strokes distributed in 5 different locations along the penis. After treatment, a significant mean (±standard deviation [s.d.]) PSV increase of 5.0 (±3.4) cm s -1 was recorded and 52/113 (46.0%) patients reached a PSV >30 cm s -1 at posttherapeutic penile dynamic Doppler. A clinically significant IIEF-5 score improvement was observed in 7 patients, 21 patients, and 2 patients with mild-to-moderate, moderate, and severe pretreatment ED, respectively. No different outcomes were assessed based on smoking habits, previous pelvic surgery, or use of oral phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE5i). On the other side, only 1 (6.7%) in 15 patients with diabetes mellitus showed an IIEF-5 score improvement after Li-ESWT. Shockwave treatment determined a significant increase in PSV and correlated IIEF-5 improvement in ED patients. This advantage seemed particularly evident for moderate ED and was not affected by smoking habits, previous pelvic surgery, and use of PDE5i. Conversely, diabetic patients did not benefit from the treatment.

(282) Penile Crural Dysplasia is a New Identified Factor for Erectile Dysfunction

Abstract Introduction Given the penile fibro-vascular assembly was just thoroughly interpreted recently and inspired by impotent patients' questions during daily practice, so does the penile venous stripping (PVS), which is deemed controversial thus far. Despite primary impotence (PI) being ascribed to psychogenic origin, in the large repository of PVS treating PI, some 5 % remain refractory in the last decade, an analysis deemed required. Objective We sought to report penile crural dysplasia or hypoplasia that prevents sustainability compared to most PVS males thus far. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted internationally on 45 consecutive young men with PI from 2013 to 2023. They were allocated into the crural dysplasia group (CDG, n=8), defined as a 50% diameter difference between the largest penile crus and corresponding corpus cavernosum or a 25% diameter difference of bilateral penile crura, and no crural-dysplasia group (NCG, n=37). On an ambulatory basis under acupuncture-aided local anesthesia, neither electrocautery nor a suction apparatus is used, with a circumferential or semi-circumcision followed by a pubic longitudinal approach, the PVS entailed the erection-related vein, including stripping a deep dorsal vein, two cavernosal veins after each emissary's vein was firmly ligated closest to the outer tunic layer with a 6–0 nylon suture. In contrast, the four para-arterial veins were only segmentally ligated. The overlying fascia layers and skin were approximated with a 6–0 nylon and 5–0 chromic suture for the skin, as did the semi-circumcision wound if it existed. The abridged 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) score system and the erection hardness scale (EHS) were used to assess erection restoration; preoperative data were based on masturbation; additionally, a radio-opacity index was used for comparison of the femoral cortex and that of penile crus preoperative and postoperative, respectively. Follow-up was primarily made via either INTERNET or telephone yearly. After this May, we introduced an autologous venous patch to augment the crural hypoplasia with a promising outcome on two new patients. Statistically, IBM SPSS 21.0 was used. Results The follow-up time was from 0.1 to 10.0 years, averaging 5.7 ± 1.1 years in the CDG and NCG groups, respectively. The blood loss is negligible. There is no difference between the operation time (4.9−0.8 hours vs. 4.8 ± 0.7 hours, p&amp;gt; 0.88) for the CG and EG group, respectively. In both groups, there is a significant of IIEF-5 scores, EHS (5.7±2.0 vs. 15.9±2.1, 1.8±0.8 vs. 2.5±0.6; 5.8 ±2.1 vs. 22.4±1.1, 1.8±0.9 vs. 3.6±0.3; both P&amp;lt;0.001) between the CDG and NCG. The preoperative radio-opacity of penile crura was unexceptionally enhanced postoperatively. In the NCG, 89.1% (33/37) are gratified; in contrast, 37.5% are satisfied in the CDG five years postoperatively, although surgery benefit is unexceptional reported. A close follow-up is going on with the two new males. Conclusions Penile crural hypoplasia is an unidentified contributor to primary impotence, although a larger sample size and longer-term follow-up are warranted. Disclosure No.

Validation of the brief version of the Susceptibility to Persuasion-II scale and evaluation of measurement invariance across age and gender in the Canadian general population

Measurement tools that can assess personality traits rendering people more susceptible to engagement with and compliance in scams can help identify at-risk populations. The brief, 30-item version of the Susceptibility to Persuasion-II (StP–II–B) scale is a recently developed instrument for assessing 10 personality traits that play a role in scam compliance; however, psychometric evidence supporting the use of this scale is limited. This study aimed to validate the StP–II–B by examining its internal consistency reliability, factor structure, as well as age- and gender-related measurement invariance with a sample of 1287 Canadians aged 16 years and older. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a 10-factor structure identified in previous research. Good internal consistency reliability was obtained for each of the 10 subscales. This 10-factor structure was found to be invariant across age and gender at configural, metric, and scalar levels, suggesting that the StP–II–B was conceptualized in the same way across age and gender and that meaningful comparisons of factor scores could be made. Age and gender differences were found in most factors, with younger individuals and men scoring higher than older individuals and women. This study supports the use of the StP–II–B as a valid and reliable scale for measuring personality traits associated with scam compliance in the Canadian general population and offers insights into age and gender cohorts that may be at higher risk of scam victimization.

Population Norms for the EQ-5D-5L, PROPr and SF-6D in Hungary.

This study aimed to develop population norms for three preference-accompanied measures [EQ-5D-5L, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-preference scoring system (PROPr) and Short-Form Six-Dimension (SF-6D)] in Hungary. In November 2020, an online cross-sectional survey was conducted among a representative sample of the Hungarian adult general population (n = 1631). Respondents completed the Hungarian versions of the EQ-5D-5L, PROMIS-29+2 version2.1 and 36-item Short Form Survey version 1 (SF-36v1). The association of utilities with sociodemographic and health-related characteristics of respondents was analysed using multivariate regressions. The proportion of respondents reporting problems ranged from 8 to 44% (self-care to pain/discomfort) on the EQ-5D-5L, 39-94% (physical function to sleep) on PROPr and 38-87% (role limitations to vitality) on the SF-6D. Problems related to physical function, self-care, usual activities/role limitations and pain increased with age, while mental health problems decreased in all three measures. In almost all corresponding domains, respondents indicated the fewest problems on the EQ-5D-5L and the most problems on the SF-6D. The mean EQ-5D-5L, PROPr and SF-6D utilities were 0.900, 0.535 and 0.755, respectively. Female gender (PROPr, SF-6D), a lower level of education (EQ-5D-5L, PROPr), being unemployed or a disability pensioner (EQ-5D-5L), being underweight or obese (SF-6D), lack of physical exercise (all) and polypharmacy (all) were associated with significantly lower utilities. PROPr yielded the lowest and EQ-5D-5L the highest mean utilities in 28 of 30 chronic health conditions. This study presents the first set of Hungarian population norms for the EQ-5D-5L, PROPr and SF-6D. Our findings can serve as reference values in clinical trials and observational studies and contribute to the monitoring of population health and the assessment of disease burden in Hungary.

Erectile dysfunction prevalence in the United States: report from the 2021 National Survey of Sexual Wellbeing.

There has been a great deal of public speculation regarding a surge in erectile dysfunction (ED) in younger men despite data consistently indicating that the ED prevalence rates increase with age. In this study we sought to assess the prevalence and risk of experiencing ED in a nationally representative sample of men in the United States across various social groups, describe comorbidities, and examine barriers to treatment. Data from the 2021 National Survey of Sexual Wellbeing were analyzed by utilizing the Ipsos KnowledgePanel®, a probability-based online panel, for the purpose of obtaining US nationally representative data of adults aged 18 years and older. The analytic sample consisted of 1822 cisgender men ranging in age from 18 to 87 years, with a mean age of 47.5 years. Study outcomes were ED as measured by the 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), as well as self-reported diagnosis by a medical professional, comorbidities with other health issues, medications taken for ED, and barriers to treatment. The ED prevalence rate based on IIEF-5 scores was 24.2%. Prevalence increased with age: 52.2% of the 75+ age group, and 48.0% of the 65-74 age group meeting diagnostic criteria for ED. Diagnostic criteria were met for more participants in the 18-24 age group (17.9%) than the 25-34 (13.3%) or 35-44 (12.7%) age groups, but less than the 45-54 (25.3%) or 55-64 (33.9%) age groups. Only 7.7% (n = 141) of the sample reported having been diagnosed by a provider (n = 4 in 25-34, n = 6 in 35-44, n = 13 in 45-54, n = 39 in 55-64, n = 44 in 65-74, and n = 34 in ≥75-year olds), indicating a gap in access to treatment. The most common reason selected for not accessing care for ED concerns was a lack of need to see a provider in the past year. The discrepancy between ED self-report and medical diagnosis is critical, given that ED can be an indication of underlying health risks. This study is the first nationally representative update to information regarding the prevalence of ED in almost 2 decades. Standard administration of the IIEF-5 is limited to participants who have had sex in the last 6 months, so these rates do not include those men with ED who have been avoiding penetrative sex for a significant time. The results indicate that ED prevalence and severity remain highest in older age groups and that most individuals who meet criteria for ED have not sought medical care related to this concern.

The ultra-short version of the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT4)-development, validation, and measurement invariance across countries, age and gender.

Given that burnout is a major problem in many societies and that employers are legally obliged to act in preventing job stress, there is a need of validated and reliable short self-report instruments. The Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT) is developed to measure burnout as a syndrome with four core components (exhaustion, mental distance, cognitive and emotional impairment). So far, the BAT was tested in over 40 studies with encouraging results. Although a short, 12-item version of the BAT exists, there is need for an ultra-short version with even less items. The overall aim is to develop an ultra-short 4-item version of the BAT (BAT4) and to evaluate its construct validity using Rasch analysis in samples from various countries along with its measurement invariance regarding country, age and gender. The BAT4 was developed using mixed methods, i.e. combining the results from a Rasch analysis, a subject matter analysis and expert judgements. Construct validity was tested on data from national representative samples from eight countries (the Netherlands, Belgium (Flanders), Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Ireland, and Japan) and in a pooled sample combing the data from all eight countries. Differential item functioning regarding age, gender and country was investigated. The BAT4 fulfilled all the criteria required by the Rasch measurement model to constitute a valid measure in the pooled and country specific samples, except Austria and Japan. In the pooled sample, measurement invariance between the eight countries as well as between gender and age was found. Analyses within different countries showed occasional gender and age DIF for some items. The results were promising regarding BAT4's construct validity and measurement invariance. Although the BAT4 includes only four items, its content coverage is acceptable. The BAT4 can be used as a short screening instrument for burnout complaints at the group or organisational level.

FAST® questionnaire for identifying glaucoma patients at risk for ocular surface disease.

To evaluate the validity and reliability of the new Fast Assessment of the Ocular Surface Trouble (FAST®) questionnaire for identifying glaucoma or ocular hypertension (OHT) patients at risk of ocular surface disease (OSD). A multicenter, international, cross-sectional, epidemiological survey evaluated the most accurate interview items and ocular signs on the initial 14-item version of FAST® to develop a shorter version for routine, quick clinical use. Rasch analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method was used to reduce the number of items on the questionnaire. Sensitivity and specificity of FAST® were assessed with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for the detection of OSD with the questionnaire and ophthalmic assessment. A total of 2308 eyes (1154 patients) were analyzed in this study by 92 ophthalmologists. The initial version of the FAST® indicated 60% of the subjects had OSD. Rasch analysis allowed removal of some clinical signs. The LASSO method allowed elimination of some items from the original questionnaire for a 9-item and a 6-item version of FAST®. For the 6-item questionnaire, the sensitivity and specificity were 71.9% and 74.3% respectively and the area under the curve was 0.815. The FAST® questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool for use in routine clinical practice and in clinical trials. The short versions of the questionnaire allow quick detection of the majority of patients with OHT or glaucoma at risk of dry eye.

The Italian version of the 16-item Prodromal Questionnaire (PQ-16) and its psychometric features in help-seeking ultra-high-risk subjects and in the general population.

Increasing attention to the early stages of psychosis and the identification of symptomatic prodromal states have led to the development of a growing number of screening tools. The 16-item version of the Prodromal Questionnaire (PQ-16) is a worldwide used self-administered tool for this purpose. However, to date, fundamental psychometric properties of PQ-16 were not thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to examine the structural validity, measurement invariance, reliability and other psychometrical properties of the Italian version of the PQ-16 (iPQ-16) in help-seeking individuals and in the general population. The iPQ-16 was administered to 449 young outpatients attending six community mental health services and to 318 control participants enrolled in educational environment. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs), measurement invariance (MI) between the help-seeking group and the general population sample, convergent validity, test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and prevalence analyses were performed. Lastly, the validity of the adopted PQ-16 cut-offs through Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves plotted against CAARMS diagnoses was also tested. CFAs confirmed the single-factor structure for the iPQ-16 and scalar MI was reached. The iPQ-16 showed high internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent validity, and acceptable diagnostic accuracy. ROC analysis suggested a score of ≥4 as best cut-off. The iPQ-16 represents a valid and reliable questionnaire for the assessment of high mental risk in both Italian outpatients and general student population. It has good psychometric properties and is easy to implement as UHR screening for clinical as well as research purposes.