Polish versions of the Qualiveen and the SF-Qualiveen: Translation and validation of urinary disorder-specific instruments in patients with multiple sclerosis

Arabic version of the SF-Qualiveen: cross-cultural adaptation, translation, and validation of urinary disorder-specific instruments in patients with multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND

The Short Form Qualiveen (SF-Qualiveen) questionnaire assesses the effect of bladder and urinary symptoms on patients' quality of life (QoL) with urological impairment caused by neurological diseases. There is no validated SF-Qualiveen questionnaire in Arabic, so this study aims to provide a translated and validated version of the SF-Qualiveen questionnaire among Arabic-speaking patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

METHODS

The English version of the SF-Qualiveen was translated into Arabic using an algorithm for linguistic and cultural adaptation. MS patients completed the SF-Qualiveen, and the Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score(NBSS) questionnaire. Psychometric features such as content and construct validity, test-retest reliability, and internal consistency were analyzed. Construct validity was evaluated by contrasting the SF-Qualiveen with the NBSS questionnaire. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach's alpha, whereas the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was employed to assess the test-retest reliability.

RESULTS

One hundred and two patients with MS were included in this study. The internal consistency of the total SF-Qualiveen, and the domains "Bother with limitations," "Fear," "Feeling," and "Frequency of limitations" showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha of > 0.7). ICC was 0.91 for the total score 0.85 for the Bother with limitations, 0.81 for Fears, 0.86 for Feeling, and 0.81 for Frequency of limitations. The correlation analysis revealed a positive association between the total scores on the NBSS and the domains of the SF-Qualiveen, comprising bother with limitations (r = 0.473, p = 0.027), fears (r = 0.611, p = 0.031), feelings (r = 0.572, p = 0.04), and frequency of limitations (r = 0.514, p = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this validation study revealed that the SF-Qualiveen is a reliable and valid instrument appropriate for Arabic-speaking patients with MS in both research and clinical practice.

Arabic version of the SF-Qualiveen: cross-cultural adaptation, translation, and validation of urinary disorder-specific instruments in patients with spinal cord injury

BACKGROUND

The Short-Form Qualiveen (SF-Qualiveen) questionnaire assesses the effect of bladder and urinary symptoms on patients' quality of life (QoL) with urological impairment caused by neurological diseases. There is no validated SF-Qualiveen questionnaire in Arabic, so this study aims to provide a translated and validated version of the SF-Qualiveen questionnaire among Arabic patients experiencing spinal cord injury (SCI).

METHODS

Psychometric features such as content and construct validity, test-retest reliability, and internal consistency were analyzed. Construct validity was evaluated by contrasting the SF-Qualiveen with the Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score Short-Form (NBSS-SF) questionnaire. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach's alpha, whereas the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was employed to assess the test-retest reliability. Factorial validity was established by principal component analysis (PCA).

RESULTS

The internal consistency of the total SF-Qualiveen and the domains "Bother with limitations," "Fear," "Feeling," and "Frequency of limitations" showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha of > 0.7). ICC was 0.90 for the total score, 0.83 for the bother with limitations, 0.80 for fears, 0.84 for feeling, and 0.81 for frequency of limitations. The correlation analysis revealed a positive association between the total scores on the NBSS-SF and the domains of the SF-Qualiveen, comprising bother with limitations (r = 0.53, p = 0.02), fears (r = 0.44, p = 0.03), feelings (r = 0.49, p = 0.04), and frequency of limitations (r = 0.46, p = 0.02). The best-fit four-factor model for confirming overall item communalities ranged from 0.552 to 0.814, which indicates moderate to high communalities, and confirms the homogeneity of the SF-Qualiveen using PCA.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this validation study revealed that the SF-Qualiveen is a reliable and valid instrument appropriate for Arabic-speaking patients with SCI in both research and clinical practices.

Measures of quality of life of people with neurogenic overactive bladder: A systematic review of psychometric properties

OBJECTIVE

To identify psychometrically robust quality-of-life (QOL) outcome measures for evaluating QOL among people with neurogenic overactive bladder (OAB).

STUDY DESIGN

Electronic databases (CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science) were searched from inception to January 2023. Two independent reviewers participated in study screening, data extraction and quality appraisal. Studies were included if they validated at least one psychometric property of a QOL outcome measure among adults (age ≥ 18 years) with neurogenic OAB. The COnsensus-based Standards for selecting health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) tool were used to evaluate the methodological quality and quality of evidence, respectively, for each included study.

RESULTS

Database searches identified 47 studies that tested the psychometric properties of 15 QOL measures in a total of 19,994 participants with stroke, spinal cord injury, Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis. The Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire (I-QOL), King's Health Questionnaire, Overactive Bladder Questionnaire and Qualiveen were the best validated measures, with strong reliability, validity and responsiveness. I-QOL was the most robust, cross-culturally administered and psychometrically strong measure. The COSMIN checklist indicated sufficient methodological quality for 70% of measures, and the modified GRADE tool indicated quality of evidence ranging from moderate (67%) to high (33%).

CONCLUSIONS

This review identified the I-QOL as a culturally diverse measure with robust reliability, validity and responsiveness for assessing QOL among people with neurogenic OAB. These findings are supported by studies with good methodological quality (COSMIN) and high-quality evidence (GRADE).

Population-Based Study of Prevalence, Bother and Behavior Related to Treatment for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Overactive Bladder among Polish Neurogenic Patients

Background: The aim of this study was to perform a cross-sectional study of Polish neurogenic patients to measure, at the population level, the prevalence, bother and behavior associated with treatment for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and overactive bladder (OAB). Methods: This epidemiological study was based on data from LUTS POLAND, a computer-assisted and population-representative telephone survey. Participants were classified by age, sex and place of residence. Results: LUTS POLAND includes 6005 completed interviews, of which 1166 (19.4%) were for individuals who had ever received any treatment by neurologists and/or neurosurgeons. Among these neurogenic participants, LUTS prevalence was 72.3%, statistically higher than for non-neurogenic respondents. At the population level, neurogenic patients had about a 20% higher risk for LUTS presence than non-neurogenic participants (relative risk: 1.17–1.21). LUTS prevalence did not differ between men and women. Frequency was the most common of the LUTS. Forty percent of neurogenic respondents described having more than one LUTS subtype (i.e., storage, voiding, and/or post-micturition symptom subtype), and more than 50% of respondents reported OAB symptoms. Both storage and voiding symptoms were bothersome, and many neurogenic individuals (42.3–51.0%) expressed anxiety about bladder function affecting quality of life. Only one-third (34.9–36.6%) of neurogenic participants had sought treatment for their LUTS, and the majority of such individuals received and maintained treatment. Conclusions: LUTS and OAB symptoms were highly prevalent and bothersome among Polish neurogenic patients at the population level. Because the scale of seeking treatment for LUTS was low, Polish neurogenic patients may not be adequately informed about multiple effects of LUTS and OAB.

Polish versions of the ICIQ-FLUTS and the ICIQ-FLUTS LF: translation, adaptation, and validation of female-specific instruments for evaluation of lower urinary tract symptoms

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Previously, there was no specific questionnaire in the Polish language for overall assessment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in women. The aim of this study was to translate, culturally adapt, and validate Polish versions of the International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire on Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (ICIQ-FLUTS and ICIQ-FLUTS LF, short and long forms) for use in clinical practice and research in Poland.

METHODS

The original English ICIQ-FLUTS and ICIQ-FLUTS LF were adapted to Polish according to international standards and recommended procedures. Adult women with LUTS who were seen at the Department of Urology at the Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland, completed the ICIQ-FLUTS and ICIQ-FLUTS LF at baseline and 2 weeks later. Control participants completed the questionnaires once. Validity and reliability were determined.

RESULTS

One hundred and eighty Polish-speaking women who had LUTS completed the questionnaires. Content validity was high. Significant differences between women with LUTS and controls for both ICIQ-FLUTS and ICIQ-FLUTS LF confirmed optimal construct validity. An intercorrelation analysis revealed that internal consistency was good for ICIQ-FLUTS and ICIQ-FLUTS LF (Cronbach's alpha >0.7). Test-retest reliability (reproducibility) demonstrated strong stability (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.7). Floor and ceiling effects were absent from women with LUTS, whereas a floor effect was detected in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

The Polish ICIQ-FLUTS and ICIQ-FLUTS LF are valid, reliable, and consistent measures of overall evaluation of LUTS in women. They are equivalent to the original English versions, and they retained the psychometric properties of the original questionnaires.

The Multiple Sclerosis Intimacy and Sexuality Questionnaire (MSISQ-15): translation, adaptation and validation of the Polish version for patients with multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury

Background

Polish physicians and researchers lack an extensive and precise instrument in their native language for evaluating sexual dysfunction in individuals with neurogenic disorders. The aim of this study was to create a culturally adapted, validated, Polish language version of the Multiple Sclerosis Intimacy and Sexuality Questionnaire (MSISQ-15) for persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) and spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods

International recommendations and standardized methods for instrument validation were followed. Sexually active patients with MS and SCI completed the MSISQ-15, International Index of Erection Function (IIEF-15, men), and Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-31, women). IIEF-15 and PISQ-31 were used as reference questionnaires. Responses were collected at baseline (test) and after 2 weeks (re-test).

Results

We recruited 299 Polish-speaking patients with MS or SCI. Interviews disclosed that the translated questionnaire had optimal content validity/cross-cultural adaptation. MSISQ-15 scores correlated significantly with the severity of sexual dysfunction as evaluated by IIEF-15 (r = − 0.487) and PISQ-31 (r = − 0.709). These correlations substantiated the high quality construct/criterion validity. An analysis of reliability presented good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha of 0.93 for the total score of MS patients and 0.86 for the total score of SCI patients) and reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.91 for the total score of MS patients and 0.92 for the total score of SCI patients). There were no ceiling or floor effects.

Conclusions

The Polish version of MSISQ-15 exhibited excellent measurement properties. It is a suitable and reliable instrument to assess sexual dysfunction in MS and SCI individuals. The Polish MSISQ-15 will enhance routine clinical practice and assist research for neurogenic patients in Poland.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12883-021-02132-9.

Evaluation of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Impact on Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Russian Translation and Validation of SF-Qualiveen

The Short Form Qualiveen (SF-Qualiveen) is an 8-item version of the Qualiveen questionnaire used to evaluate the impact of urinary symptoms on the quality of life in patients with urological dysfunction due to neurological disorders. The questionnaire was never available in the Russian language before. The study is aimed at providing the translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of a Russian version of the SF-Qualiveen for the use in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Materials and Methods. The original English language version of the SF-Qualiveen was translated into Russian according to the cultural and linguistic adaptation algorithm. The participants (50 MS patients with neurogenic bladder and 10 relatively healthy volunteers) filled out the finalized Russian version of the SF-Qualiveen and the Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score (NBSS) twice, 2 weeks apart. The data obtained was used to determine the internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), external validity (the Spearman correlation), and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)) of the questionnaire. Results. The mean SF-Qualiveen total score was 2.51 ± 0.79 in patients with a neurogenic bladder and 0.1 ± 0.02 in the control group (p < 0.001). Cronbach's alpha exceeded 0.9 indicating an excellent internal consistency of the questionnaire. The retest did not reveal any significant differences between the findings. The test-retest reliability was good for all items and domains (ICC 0.81-0.89). The total score demonstrated the highest ICC (0.89). The external validity was verified by a strong correlation demonstrated between the SF-Qualiveen and NBSS scores. Conclusions. The Russian SF-Qualiveen questionnaire is a reliable, valid, and consistent tool for the assessment of a urinary disorder impact on the quality of life in patients with MS.