Introduction
The Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) is a pivotal tool for assessing erectile dysfunction (ED). Developed in 1999 by R.C. Rosen et al. and published in the International Journal of Impotence Research, the SHIM has garnered over 3,500 citations, highlighting its widespread use in urology and sexual health research.
Designed for men aged 18 and older, this self-administered questionnaire efficiently screens for the presence and severity of ED, providing critical insights for treatment and monitoring. This article explores the SHIM’s features, scoring, applications, and limitations, offering a comprehensive resource for experts.
Key Features of the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM)
Purpose and Use
The Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) serves several key functions within clinical and research settings. Its core purpose, for instance, involves screening for and evaluating the severity of erectile dysfunction. Furthermore, clinicians find the tool instrumental for assessing the overall sexual health of men, guiding treatment decisions, and effectively monitoring changes in erectile function over time.
Target Population
Researchers specifically validated the questionnaire for adult men, including young adults (18-24), middle-aged adults (25-44), older adults (45-64), and seniors (65+). Therefore, its focus remains squarely on the adult male population, making it an unsuitable instrument for pediatric or adolescent groups.
Structure
The SHIM is remarkably concise, comprising just five questions that explore critical aspects of erectile function. In detail, these items cover:
Confidence in achieving an erection
Ability to penetrate a partner
Frequency of maintaining an erection after penetration
Overall satisfaction with sexual life
Each question utilizes a 5-point Likert scale to capture the patient’s experience. Additionally, the questionnaire’s brevity allows for completion in less than five minutes, a feature that significantly enhances its practicality in busy clinical environments.
Scoring Method
The SHIM employs a straightforward scoring system. For item scoring, clinicians score each of the five questions on a scale from 1 to 5. The total score, consequently, is the sum of the responses, ranging from 5 to 25; indeed, higher scores consistently indicate better erectile function. Clinicians then use established cut-off scores to classify the severity of ED. For instance, a total score of 21 or less indicates erectile dysfunction. Accordingly, clinicians interpret the severity levels as follows:
22-25: No erectile dysfunction
17-21: Mild ED
12-16: Mild-to-moderate ED
8-11: Moderate ED
5-7: Severe ED
Administration Format
The SHIM is a self-administered tool that requires no specialized training to complete, which in turn makes it highly efficient. It also offers considerable flexibility in administration and can be conducted via:
Paper-based forms
Digital (Online) platforms
In-person interviews
Phone or video calls
Applications of PTSD Checklist for the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM)
The SHIM is a versatile tool with broad applications in urology and men’s health. In fact, its clinical utility spans several key areas:
Screening: It quickly identifies patients who may be experiencing ED.
Diagnosis: Moreover, it assists in diagnosing the presence and severity of ED.
Monitoring: The tool effectively tracks patient progress and response to treatments over time.
Treatment Planning: In addition, it provides valuable patient-reported outcomes to help tailor therapeutic strategies.
Research: Lastly, professionals widely use it in clinical trials and academic studies to evaluate treatment efficacy and sexual health outcomes.
Languages and Availability
A key advantage of the SHIM is its accessibility. The questionnaire is free to use and operates under a proprietary license. Translations into multiple languages enhance this widespread availability, thereby supporting its use in global research and multicultural clinical settings. Available languages include:
Arabic
English
Spanish
French
Portuguese
Reliability and Validity
Experts recognize the SHIM as a highly reliable and valid instrument for assessing ED. In addition, numerous studies document its psychometric strength, ensuring that clinicians and researchers can trust the data it produces. For instance, the Arabic translation of the questionnaire demonstrated excellent internal consistency with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.91.
Validation Studies:
Limitations and Considerations
Despite its strengths, the SHIM presents a few limitations:
Self-report measure: First, respondents may be influenced by social desirability bias or personal interpretation.
Language Barriers: Also, although it is available in several languages, it may not be validated for all cultural contexts.
Limited Validation Studies: While widely used, comprehensive validation across diverse populations could be expanded.
Narrow Focus: Finally, it primarily assesses erectile function and may not capture broader aspects of sexual health or satisfaction.
Other Versions and Related Questionnaires
Clinicians also know the SHIM as the IIEF-5 because it is an abridged 5-item version of the more extensive 15-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15). While the SHIM is excellent for rapid screening, researchers or clinicians seeking more detailed insights might use complementary questionnaires, such as:
International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15): The original, more comprehensive tool.
IIEF-6: Another abbreviated version.
Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS): This tool focuses specifically on patient satisfaction with ED treatments.
Additional Resources
- A direct link to the Original Validation Study
- additional validation study is also available for reference.
- You can access the questionnaire as a PDF through this link
- View a clinical overview and access a downloadable version of the SHIM at Chinn Urology.
- For inquiries, contact the corresponding authors via email at rcac-all@groups.purdue.edu
- For additional SHIM resources, consult the International Journal of Impotence Research
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who can use the SHIM?
Clinicians, researchers, and healthcare providers use the SHIM for male patients aged 18 and older to assess erectile function.How long does it take to complete the SHIM?
Typically, patients take less than 5 minutes to complete the SHIM, which makes it highly feasible for use in both clinical and research settings.How is the SHIM administered?
Healthcare teams can administer the questionnaire via paper, digital, in-person interview, or phone/video call formats, thereby offering significant flexibility in usage.Is there any cost to using the SHIM?
The SHIM is free to use for clinical and research purposes.
A Word from ResRef about Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM)
The SHIM stands as a validated, 5-item questionnaire designed to assess erectile dysfunction (ED) severity in men. For example, it effectively evaluates crucial aspects such as confidence in achieving and maintaining erections and overall satisfaction. With a scoring range from 5 to 25, it also capably categorizes ED from severe to no dysfunction. Because of its high reliability and ease of administration, clinicians and researchers widely use the SHIM in both clinical and research settings. Ultimately, it serves as an efficient and powerful tool for screening, diagnosing, and monitoring treatment outcomes in men with ED.
References
- Rosen RC, Cappelleri JC, Smith MD, Lipsky J, Peña BM. Development and evaluation of an abridged, 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) as a diagnostic tool for erectile dysfunction. Int J Impot Res. 1999 Dec;11(6):319-26. doi: 10.1038/sj.ijir.3900472. PMID: 10637462. link
- Shamloul R, Ghanem H, Abou-zeid A. Validity of the Arabic version of the sexual health inventory for men among Egyptians. Int J Impot Res. 2004 Oct;16(5):452-5. doi: 10.1038/sj.ijir.3901248. PMID: 15175638. link
