The PANHIS Study: Sexual Health in Spanish-Speaking Adults - A Cross-Sectional Online Survey

Condition(s) studied

Study summary

This cross-sectional observational study uses an online survey to describe the epidemiology of sexual health, sexual behaviour and sexual function in Spanish-speaking adults, and to estimate the prevalence and phenomenology of expanded (altered) states of consciousness associated with orgasm. The study has two prespecified aims, analysed and reported as two separate manuscripts:

1. sexual health and behaviour epidemiology and associated factors; and
2. expanded states of consciousness associated with orgasm. Recruitment is via social media with complementary channels. Sexual function is assessed with a brief study-developed instrument administered identically to all participants, enabling direct between-sex comparison. Survey weights are applied. Reporting follows STROBE and CHERRIES.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Percentage of participants with self-reported sexual difficulty with associated distress — Baseline
  Percentage of participants meeting the prespecified definition of self-reported sexual difficulty with associated distress, assessed using the PANHIS Sexual Function Index (PSFI), a study-developed 11-item self-report questionnaire. Participants meet the definition when they score 0 or 1 on at least one of the five PSFI function domains (desire, subjective arousal, genital physical response, orgasm, and pain during receptive penetration; each domain scored 0 to 4, where higher scores indicate better sexual function) and simultaneously score 2 or 3 on the PSFI associated-distress item (scored 0 to 3, where higher scores indicate greater distress). Responses of "not applicable" are treated as not applicable and are not scored as zero. PSFI items refer to the 4 weeks preceding survey completion. Reported as a weighted percentage of participants. This outcome is reported as self-reported sexual difficulty with associated distress and does not constitute a diagnosis of sexual dysfunction.
• Percentage of participants reporting expanded states of consciousness associated with orgasm — Baseline
  Percentage of participants reporting expanded or altered states of consciousness associated with orgasm, identified by a single study-developed screening item asking whether they have ever experienced, during a sexual experience, changes in bodily perception or intense or unusual sensations. The item has three response options: yes; not sure; no. The primary estimate is the percentage answering "yes". The combined percentage answering "yes" or "not sure" is reported alongside it as a prespecified upper-bound estimate. Both the "yes" and the "not sure" groups are shown the characterisation module and are described separately. Lifetime recall. Unit of measure: percentage of participants.

Trial sites (2)

Other trials for the same condition