Article Figures & Data
Tables
- Table 1.
Descriptive Statistics for Demographic and Mental Health Variables in Veteran Primary Care Patient Sample
Variable Women (n = 151) n (%) Men (n = 97) n (%) Total Sample (n = 248) n (%) P Value Age-group <0.001 18 to 44 years old 65 (43.1) 22 (22.7) 87 (35.1) 45 to 64 years old 73 (48.3) 50 (51.6) 123 (49.6) 65 years and older 13 (8.6) 25 (25.8) 38 (15.3) Race White 129 (85.4) 86 (88.7) 215 (86.7) 0.27 Black or African American 10 (6.6) 8 (8.3) 18 (7.3) Other 12 (8.0) 3 (3.1) 15 (6.1) Hispanic or Latino ethnicity* 10 (6.6) 3 (3.1) 13 (5.2) 0.25 Relationship status 0.79 Currently married and living together 119 (78.8) 72 (74.2) 191 (77.0) Currently dating and living together 18 (11.9) 15 (15.5) 33 (13.3) Other† 14 (9.3) 10 (10.3) 24 (9.7) Sexual orientation <0.001 Heterosexual 120 (79.5) 94 (96.9) 214 (86.3) Other‡ 31 (20.5) 3 (3.1) 34 (13.7) Highest level of education completed 0.002 Less than high school 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) High school or GED 10 (6.6) 23 (23.7) 33 (13.3) Some college 82 (54.3) 45 (46.4) 127 (51.2) 4-year college degree 37 (24.5) 20 (20.6) 57 (23.0) Master's degree or higher 22 (14.6) 9 (9.3) 31 (12.5) Annual household income 0.92 Less than $20,000 9 (6.0) 8 (8.3) 17 (6.9) $20,000 to $39,999 24 (15.9) 13 (13.4) 37 (14.9) $40,000 to $59,999 30 (19.9) 19 (19.6) 49 (19.8) $60,000 to $79,999 34 (22.5) 26 (26.8) 60 (24.2) $80,000 to $99,999 23 (15.2) 14 (14.4) 37 (14.9) More than $100,000 31 (20.5) 17 (17.5) 48 (19.4) Military combat exposure 31 (20.5) 51 (52.6) 82 (33.1) <0.001 Probable MDD (PHQ-9) 33 (21.9) 25 (25.8) 58 (23.4) 0.48 Probable PTSD (PCL-5) 47 (31.1) 28 (28.9) 75 (30.2) 0.71 Hazardous alcohol use (AUDIT) 33 (21.9) 14 (14.4) 47 (19.0) 0.15 Relationship dissatisfaction (CSI-4) 69 (45.7) 41 (42.3) 110 (44.4) 0.60 AUDIT, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test; CSI-4, Couples Satisfaction Index; GED, general equivalency diploma; MDD, major depressive disorder; PCL-5, PTSD Checklist for DSM-5; PHQ-9, Patient Health Questionnaire-9; PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder.
Data were collected via a mailed survey in August–September 2019.
↵* Proportion who reported Hispanic or Latino ethnicity out of full sample; responses were missing for 38 participants.
↵† Includes participants who were currently married and living apart, currently dating and living separately, currently dating but not in a committed relationship, divorced, widowed, and single, never married and not dating anyone.
↵‡ Includes 2 men and 5 women who identified as sexually attracted equally to males and females, 5 women who identified as sexually attracted only to females, 21 women who identified as sexually attracted primarily to males, and 1 man who identified as sexually attracted only to males.
- Table 2.
Self-Reported Sexual Dysfunction Symptoms and Screening Status Among Veteran Primary Care Patients
Variable Women (n = 151) n (%) Men (n = 97) n (%) Full Sample (n = 248) n (%) How strong is your sex drive? Extremely, very, or somewhat strong 54 (35.8) 58 (60.0) 112 (45.2) Somewhat weak 35 (23.2) 21 (21.7) 56 (22.6) Very weak or no sex drive 62 (41.1) 18 (18.6) 80 (32.3) How easily are you sexually aroused (turned on)? Extremely, very, or somewhat easily 68 (45.0) 72 (74.2) 140 (56.5) Somewhat difficult 42 (27.8) 16 (16.5) 58 (23.4) Very difficult or never aroused 41 (27.2) 9 (9.3) 50 (20.2) Men only: Can you easily get and keep an erection?
Women only: How easily does your vagina become moist or wet during sex?*Extremely, very, or somewhat easily 82 (55.4) 64 (66.0) 146 (59.6) Somewhat difficult 45 (30.4) 20 (20.6) 65 (26.5) Very difficult or never 21 (14.2) 13 (13.4) 34 (13.9) How easily can you reach orgasm? Extremely, very, or somewhat easily 77 (51.0) 80 (82.5) 157 (63.3) Somewhat difficult 35 (23.2) 12 (12.4) 47 (19.0) Very difficult or never reach orgasm 39 (25.8) 5 (5.2) 44 (17.7) Are your orgasms satisfying?† Extremely, very, or somewhat satisfying 95 (63.3) 76 (78.4) 171 (69.2) Somewhat unsatisfying 22 (14.7) 17 (17.5) 39 (15.8) Very unsatisfying or can't reach orgasm 33 (22.0) 4 (4.1) 37 (15.0) Positive screen for sexual dysfunction on ASEX (met any of the 3 criteria below) 94 (62.3) 31 (32.0) 125 (50.4) Total ASEX score >= 19 69 (45.7) 16 (16.5) 85 (34.3) At least 1 ASEX item >= 5 77 (51.0) 23 (23.7) 100 (40.3) At least 3 ASEX items >= 4 75 (49.7) 22 (22.7) 97 (39.1) - Table 3.
Preferences regarding Sexual Health Discussions Among Veteran Primary Care Patients (n = 248)
Preference Item Strongly or Somewhat Disagree n (%) Neutral n (%) Strongly or Somewhat Agree n (%) The primary care team should give all patients information about sexual problems 26 (10.5) 69 (27.8) 153 (61.7) The primary care team should ask all patients if they are having sexual problems 24 (9.7) 69 (27.8) 155 (62.5) The primary care team should only talk about sexual problems after patients bring them up 94 (37.9) 56 (22.6) 98 (39.5) The primary care team should include a question about sexual problems on the medical history form 20 (8.1) 59 (23.8) 169 (68.2) If I were having sexual problems, I would like my primary care team to ask me about them 24 (9.7) 61 (24.6) 163 (65.7) If I were having sexual problems, I would like my primary care team to wait until I bring them up 101 (40.7) 66 (26.6) 81 (32.7) If I were having sexual problems, I would meet with a behavioral health provider in primary care if my primary care team recommended it 33 (13.3) 68 (27.4) 147 (59.3) n (%) Preferred format for help with sexual problems Face-to-face discussion with my primary care provider 81 (32.7) Face-to-face discussion with behavioral health provider 41 (16.5) Printed information to read at home on my own 40 (16.1) Website with information 36 (14.5) No preference 34 (13.7) Mobile app with information 7 (2.8) Telephone call with behavioral health provider 5 (2.0) Telephone call with my primary care provider 4 (1.6) - Table 4.
Preferences for Discussing Sexual Health Among Veteran Primary Care Patients by Sexual Dysfunction Screen Status (n = 248)
Preference Item and Sexual Dysfunction Screen Status* Strongly or Somewhat Disagree or Neutral n (%) Strongly or Somewhat Agree n (%) P Value The primary care team should give all patients information about sexual problems 0.039 Negative screen 55 (44.7) 68 (55.3) Positive screen 40 (32.0) 85 (68.0) The primary care team should ask all patients if they are having sexual problems 0.07 Negative screen 53 (43.1) 70 (56.9) Positive screen 40 (32.0) 85 (68.0) The primary care team should only talk about sexual problems after patients bring them up 0.001 Negative screen 62 (50.4) 61 (49.6) Positive screen 88 (70.4) 37 (29.6) The primary care team should include a question about sexual problems on the medical history form 0.11 Negative screen 45 (36.6) 78 (63.4) Positive screen 34 (27.2) 91 (72.8) If I were having sexual problems, I would like my primary care team to ask me about them 0.036 Negative screen 50 (40.7) 73 (59.4) Positive screen 35 (28.0) 90 (72.0) If I were having sexual problems, I would like my primary care team to wait until I bring them up 0.003 Negative screen 72 (58.5) 51 (41.5) Positive screen 95 (76.0) 30 (24.0) If I were having sexual problems, I would meet with a BHP in PC if my primary care team recommended it 0.81 Negative screen 51 (41.5) 72 (58.5) Positive screen 50 (40.0) 75 (60.0) BHP, behavioral health provider; PC, primary care.
↵* A positive screen for sexual dysfunction on the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale is indicated by a total score ≥ 19, any 1 item ≥ 5, or any 3 items ≥ 4.35
