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Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of Sexual Function after Gynecologic Illness Scale (SFAGIS)

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to develop the Chinese version of the Sexual Function after Gynecologic Illness Scale (SFAGIS) and to establish its psychometric properties in Hong Kong Chinese patients with gynecological cancer.

Methods

A Chinese version of SFAGIS was developed using the Brislin model of translation and guidelines for cross-cultural adaptation of scales. The content validity and semantic equivalence were assessed by an expert panel. The translated version of SFAGIS was administered to 150 Hong Kong Chinese women with gynecological cancer to test the scale’s psychometric properties and to assess its feasibility. The convergent validity of the Chinese scale was tested by correlating it with the Chinese version of the sex relations subscale of the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale Self-Report (PAIS-SR).

Results

The average completion time for the Chinese SFAGIS was 16.2 ± 6.6 min. The internal consistency of the Chinese SFAGIS was 0.93. Test–retest reliability was also high with an interclass correlation coefficient 0.76. A Pearson product–moment correlation found strong correlations among the Chinese SFAGIS and the Chinese version of the sex relations subscale of the PAIS-SR, indicating that both scales measure the same as or has a similar construct.

Conclusions

The Chinese version of SFAGIS is a reliable and valid instrument which can be used in clinical practice and research for assessing sexual function problems in Chinese patients with gynecological cancer and to identify those in need of attention.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Tony Mok and Dr. Sheila Twinn.

Conflict of interest

There are no potential conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 7/F, Esther Lee Building Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China

    Ka Ming Chow, C. W. H. Chan, K. C. Choi, A. T. Y. Shiu & W. Y. Ip

  2. Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    K. K. F. Cheng

  3. Cancer Patient Resource Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China

    C. M. W. Wong

Authors
  1. Ka Ming Chow
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  2. C. W. H. Chan
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  3. K. C. Choi
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  4. A. T. Y. Shiu
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  5. K. K. F. Cheng
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  6. W. Y. Ip
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  7. C. M. W. Wong
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Correspondence to Ka Ming Chow.

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Chow, K.M., Chan, C.W.H., Choi, K.C. et al. Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of Sexual Function after Gynecologic Illness Scale (SFAGIS). Support Care Cancer 21, 3079–3084 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-013-1890-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-013-1890-8

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