Translation and validation of ICIQ-FLUTS for Tamil-speaking women

Urdu translation and validation of the international consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (ICIQ-FLUTS)

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (ICIQ-FLUTS) is a tool for the evaluation of lower urinary tract symptoms and their impact on the quality of life. The purpose of this research was the translation of ICIQ-FLUTS into the Urdu language and to determine its validity and reliability.

METHODS

Two bilingual translators translated the ICIQ-FLUTS Questionnaire into the Urdu language. Three experts compared the Urdu ICIQ-FLUTS with the original version of ICIQ-FLUTS. Urdu version was translated back into English by two translators. The pre-final version was drafted after tracking the forward and backward translation differences. The final Urdu version was drafted after application to ten patients (pilot study). Final Urdu ICIQ-FLUTS was applied to 120 participants for validity and reliability.

RESULTS

Urdu version was drafted after the consensus of the experts. The content validity index ranged between 0.81-0.93. The mean age of the participants was 45.2 ± 7.79 years. The test-retest reliability was analyzed through intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) 0.972 and internal consistency by Cronbach's alpha 0.986. The concurrent validity was determined by correlating the ICIQ-FLUTS with ICIQ-UI SF (0.82) and UDI-6 (0.72).

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that the Urdu version of ICIQ-FLUTS is an assessment questionnaire for the signs and symptoms of urinary incontinence. It has good content validity, concurrent validity, and test-retest reliability.

Translation and Validation of Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Questionnaire for Urinary Incontinence in Urdu

Background

In this study, we aimed to translate and validate the 19-item version of the Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (Bristol FLUTS) Questionnaire in Urdu among women experiencing urinary incontinence at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.

Methodology

A cross-sectional validation study was conducted in the urology clinic at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, between April and September 2021. After forward and backward translation of the Bristol FLUTS questionnaire, content validation was done by six experts, followed by the administration of the questionnaire to 10 respondents in the pilot phase of the study. In total, 207 participants were approached to fill the final version of the translated questionnaire. Overall, 188 respondents filled out the questionnaire, including 94 women with urinary incontinence and 94 women from the community to test construct validity. Finally, 30 women with urinary incontinence were asked to fill the form again two weeks later to determine test-retest reliability. Cronbach’s alpha was employed to assess the internal consistency of the questionnaire.

Results

The questionnaire displayed good content validity for reliability (content validity index: 0.84) and clarity (0.89). The scores reported by cases were significantly higher than the controls in all but the sexual function domain, suggesting good construct validity. Cronbach’s alpha of 0.81 signified good internal consistency, and a Pearson’s coefficient of 0.993 (p < 0.001) comparing responses at baseline and after two weeks indicated good test-retest reliability.

Conclusions

The Urdu translation of the Bristol FLUTS is a valid and reliable questionnaire that can be used in the clinical setting.

Association of gene polymorphisms with women urinary incontinence

Aim of study was set to investigate the association of women urinary incontinence (UI) with serotonin receptor HTR2A T102C and beta 3-adrenergic receptor ADRB3 Trp64Arg genes polymorphisms. The study included 110 women with Urge, Stress, and Mixed UI types and the control group – 105 continent women. Both groups have filled in the ICIQ-FLUTS questionnaire and their blood genotyping was performed. Urge UI subgroup was older and had higher body mass index (BMI) in comparison to other UI types and control group. More than half of all women had family history of UI in Stress UI and Mixed UI subgroups. The frequency of HTR2A T102C gene polymorphism’s minor allele C and genotype CC was significantly more expressed in Urge UI subgroup, as compared with control group (C-77.3 vs 58.7%, p = 0.007 and CC-57.6 vs 31.1%, p = 0.015). The ADRB3 Trp64Arg gene polymorphism did not differ between groups. The regression analysis revealed CC genotype (OR = 3.06, 95% CI: 1.11–8.43; p = 0.030) and allele C (OR = 2.53, 95% CI: 1.16–5.53; p = 0.020) were risk factors for development of Urge UI. We conclude that HTR2A T102C gene polymorphism affected the development of Urge UI.

A systematic review of utility-based and disease-specific quality of life measurement instruments for women with urinary incontinence

AIM

This systematic review aims to identify disease-specific and generic quality of life (QoL) outcome measurement instruments used in populations of women with urinary incontinence (UI) and to determine the most psychometrically robust and appropriate disease-specific and generic tools for measuring the quality of life in this population.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted of PubMed, Embase, SCIELO, and CINAHL databases for studies evaluating measurement properties of QoL instruments in women with UI. The methodological quality of studies and the quality of measurement properties were evaluated using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INtruments (COSMIN) checklist and quality criteria. Overall, evidence for measurement properties was graded using the modified grading of recommendations, assessment, development & evaluation approach.

RESULTS

A total of 73 studies were included, and 27 specific and 6 generic instruments were identified. The Incontinence QoL questionnaire (IQoL) had the highest overall psychometric quality for English-speaking populations and was the most widely translated tool. Evidence for generic QoL tools in this population is limited. Few studies evaluated measurement error or cross-cultural validity.

CONCLUSION

The IQoL is the most psychometrically robust disease-specific tool for use in this population. More research is needed to determine the most psychometrically robust generic tool. Future studies should also evaluate measurement error and cross-cultural validity as evidence for these properties is particularly lacking.

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.

Validation of the Arabic linguistic version of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-overactive bladder (ICIQ-OAB)

Background

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a health burden that needs an Arabic assessment tool. The idea is to validate the Arabic version of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-overactive bladder (ICIQ-OAB).

Methods

A multicenter cross-sectional study carried out between March 2019 and February 2020. The translated ICIQ-OAB was used to assess the 227 patients. The enrolled patients were 112 complaining of symptoms suggestive of OAB, 115 healthy without LUTS symptoms. Additionally, patients with and without BOO symptoms were included. The reliability assessment of the internal consistency was done using Cronbach’s α test. With the aid of Spearman’s correlation coefficient (r), the interdomain associations were assessed. The Mann–Whitney test was used to assess the discrimination validity.

Results

A high internal consistency between the mean scores of women with and those without OAB as well as BOO groups, Cronbach’s alpha value was 0.82. A strong correlation obviates among whole ICIQ domains in OAB set (P ≤ 0.001). Equally, a high correlation exists among each domain in the BOO group, and Cronbach’s alpha value was 0.82. In comparison with control, highly significant scores exist for all ICIQ-OAB domains and entire points in the BOO as well as OAB sets (P < 0.001). The ICIQ-OAB was found to have good discriminant validity.

Conclusion

A formulated and approved ICIQ-OAB -Arabic release is a value tool for addressing OAB symptom complex. The easy questionnaire will be a useful tool in grading the bother symptoms in Arabic speaking inhabitant.

Validation of the Thai version of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (ICIQ-FLUTS)

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

To provide a validated Thai language version of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (ICIQ-FLUTS) following a standardized procedure and to evaluate its psychometric properties.

METHODS

After IRB approval, the English ICIQ-FLUTS was translated into Thai according to the cross-cultural adaptation process for patient-reported outcome measures. The psychometric properties of the final version of the Thai ICIQ-FLUTS were tested for content validity, internal consistency, construct validity, and test-retest reliability. Patients attending an urogynecology clinic and women from two communities were recruited for this study.

RESULTS

The final Thai version of the ICIQ-FLUTS was developed and assessed by a panel of clinicians fluent in both languages including the content expert. Women with and without female lower urinary tract symptoms (FLUTS), in whom the translation was pretested, agreed that the final version made sense and was understandable. Among the 288 women who received the questionnaires, 283 (142 attending the clinic and 141 living in the communities) returned the completed questionnaire. The overall internal consistency of the Thai-version questionnaire was high, with a Cronbach's alpha score of 0.849. Symptom scores for filling, voiding, and incontinence in patients attending the clinic were significantly higher than in individuals from the community (p < 0.001). The correlation coefficients between the test and retest among 136 participants for symptoms of filling, voiding, and incontinence were 0.925, 0.769, and 0.921, respectively (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The Thai ICIQ-FLUTS contained satisfactory content and exhibited construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. It is equivalent to the original English version and will be a valuable tool for assessing LUTS in Thai-speaking women.

Vaginal, sexual and urinary symptoms following hysterectomy: a multi-centre randomized controlled trial

Background

Hysterectomy is the most common major gynaecological procedure. The aim of this study was to study vaginal, sexual and urinary symptoms following total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), non-descent vaginal hysterectomy (NDVH) and total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) in a low resource setting.

Methods

A multi-centre randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in two public sector hospitals in Sri Lanka. Participants were patients requiring hysterectomy for non-malignant uterine causes. Exclusion criteria were uterus> 14 weeks, previous pelvic surgery, medical illnesses which contraindicated laparoscopic surgery, and those requiring incontinence surgery or pelvic floor surgery.

Vaginal, sexual function and urinary symptoms were assessed by the validated translations of ICIQ-VS and ICIQ-FLUTS questionnaires. Post-operative improvement (pre-operative – post-operative) was assessed.

Results

There was an improvement (median (IQ1-IQ3) in vaginal symptoms [TAH 6(2–8) vs 4(0–8), p < 0.001; NDVH 6(4–8.5) vs 5(0–8), p < 0.001; TLH 4(2–10.5) vs 4(0–10), p < 0.001], urinary flow symptoms [TAH 2(1–4) vs 1 (0–3), p < 0.001; NDVH 3 (2–5) vs 2 (0.5–4), p < 0.001; TLH 1(1–4) vs 1(0–3), p < 0.05], urinary voiding symptoms [TAH 0(0–0) vs 0(0–0), p = 0.20; NDVH 0(0–1) vs 0(0–0.8), p < 0.05; TLH 0(0–0) vs 0(0–0), p < 0.05] and urinary incontinence symptoms [TAH 0(0–2) vs 0(0–2), p = 0.06; NDVH 0(0–3) vs 0(0–3), p < 0.001; TLH 0(0–3) vs 0(0–2), p < 0.05] at 1-year (TAH n = 47, NDVH n = 45, TLH n = 47). There was an improvement in sexual symptoms only in the TLH group [TAH 0(0–11.5) vs 0(0–14), p = 0.08); NDVH 0(0–0) vs 0(0–0), p = 0.46; TLH 0(0–0) vs 0(0–4), p < 0.05].

There was no significant difference among the three different routes in terms of vaginal symptoms score [TAH 2 (0–2), NDVH 0 (0–2), TLH 0 (0–2), p = 0.33], sexual symptoms [TAH 0 (0–0), NDVH 0 (0–0), TLH 0 (0–0), p = 0.52], urinary flow symptoms [TAH 0 (0–1), NDVH 0 (0–1), TLH 0 (0–2), p = 0.56], urinary voiding symptoms [TAH 0 (0–0), NDVH 0 (0–0), TLH 0 (0–0), p = 0.64] and urinary incontinence symptoms [TAH 0 (0–0), NDVH 0 (0–1), TLH 0 (0–1), p = 0.35] at 1-year.

Conclusions

There was a post-operative improvement in vaginal symptoms and urinary symptoms in all three groups. There was no significant difference in pelvic organ symptoms between the three routes; TAH, NDVH and TLH.

Trial registration

Sri Lanka clinical trials registry, SLCTR/2016/020 and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, U1111–1194-8422, on 26 July 2016. Available from: http://slctr.lk/trials/515

Validation of the international consultation on incontinence modular questionnaire - female lower urinary tract symptoms (ICIQ-FLUTS) into brazilian portuguese

Purpose:

To translate, adapt and validate the International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire on Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ICIQ-FLUTS for the Brazilian female population.

Materials and Methods:

A translation of the questionnaire into Brazilian Portuguese was made followed by an adaptation for better understanding by native speakers. After that, the ICIQ-FLUTS was answered by eighty volunteers (n=80) twice (for interviewers 1 and 2) with an interval of 30 minutes between them. Furthermore, after 15 days from the evaluation, the participants answered the ICIQ-FLUTS again in order to verify the questionnaire stability over time. The questionnaires Utian Quality Of Life (UQOL) and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Short Form (ICIQ-SF), which are validated in Brazil were also applied to perform the validation.

Results:

The result of the Cronbach α coefficient of the instrument presented a value of 0.832. The values for test-retest were 0.907 (inter-observer) and 0.901 (intra-observer). The correlation between ICIQ-FLUTS (score I - domain of urinary incontinence) with the ICIQ-SF (final score) was strong and positive (r=0.836, p=0.000). In addition, the ICIQ-FLUTS showed moderate and negative correlation with the total score of UQOL (r=-0.691, p=0.017).

Conclusion:

The Portuguese version of the ICIQ-FLUTS questionnaire showed strong correlation to ICIQ-SF questionnaire and satisfactory values to test-retest and internal consistency.

SLK Triple Therapy Improves Maternal and Fetal Status and Promotes Postpartum Pelvic Floor Function in Chinese Primiparous Women

Background

During pregnancy, appropriate physical activity plays critical roles in maternal and fetal health. This study investigated the effects of Sophrology childbirth-Kegel-Lamaze respiratory training (SLK triple therapy) on maternal and newborn health, pelvic floor function, and quality of life.

Material/Methods

Single-pregnant primiparous women involved in this study were divided into the control group (n=120) and the SLK triple therapy group (n=120). SLK triple therapy was taught to and practiced by the women in the SLK triple therapy group. Data on delivery mode (natural delivery or cesarean section), postpartum complications (postpartum urinary incontinence, postpartum hemorrhage), and birth process were recorded. Apgar scores and body weight of newborns were evaluated. Pelvic floor function, postpartum emotion, and sexual functions were assessed.

Results

Women in the SLK triple therapy group had significantly better natural delivery rate compared to the control group (p<0.05). SLK triple therapy significantly decreased the postpartum urinary incontinence rate and reduced the postpartum hemorrhage rate compared to the control group (p<0.05). Birth process and postpartum hemorrhage volume in the SLK triple therapy group were also significantly lower compared to the control group (p<0.05). Apgar scores were significantly lower and body weights were significantly higher in the SLK triple therapy group compared to the control group (p<0.05). SLK triple therapy significantly improved pelvic floor function compared to the control group (p<0.05). SLK triple therapy significantly decreased SDS scores and enhanced FSFI scores compared to the control group (p<0.05).

Conclusions

SLK triple therapy improved maternal and fetal health by improving pregnancy outcomes, promoting postpartum pelvic floor function, reducing the incidence of depression, and enhancing sexual function. Therefore, SLK triple therapy has great utility in treating primiparous women.

Reliability and Validity of the Persian Language Version of the Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms' Long form Questionnaire

Background:

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are important and prevalent health problems that seriously affect many women and their quality of life (QOL). The female LUTS long form (FLUTS-LF) is a robust measure to assess the QOL of women. This study aimed at translating FLUTS-LF and assessing the reliability and validity of this questionnaire among Iranian patients with LUTS.

Materials and Methods:

Forward and backward translations of FLUTS-LF questionnaire were carried out by the research team. Data collection was conducted from November 2015 to March 2016 in Isfahan, Iran. A total of 237 women completed the Persian version of FLUTS-LF, incontinence QOL, and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaires. We evaluated Cronbach's alpha coefficient, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), stability (reliability), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the questionnaire.

Results:

The mean (standard deviation) age of the participants was 45.4 (12.50) years (range 20–70 years). Face and content validities were acceptable and missing data comprise 2% of the total data. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) of the urinary symptoms was 0.78. ICC of the total score in urinary symptoms section was 0.95. Indexes of factor analysis were assessed and found to be acceptable. A high correlation was observed between the total scores of FLUTS-LF and IPSS.

Conclusions:

It seems that FLUTS-LF questionnaire can be a suitable instrument for assessing LUTS and their impacts on Iranian women's QOL.

Cost evaluation, quality of life and pelvic organ function of three approaches to hysterectomy for benign uterine conditions: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Hysterectomy is the commonest major gynaecological surgery. Although there are many approaches to hysterectomy, which depend on clinical criteria, certain patients may be eligible to be operated in any of the several available approaches. However, most comparative studies on hysterectomy are between two approaches. There is also a relative absence of data on long-term outcomes on quality of life and pelvic organ function. There is no single study which has considered quality of life, pelvic organ function and cost-effectiveness for the three main types of hysterectomy. Therefore, the objective of this study is to provide evidence on the optimal route of hysterectomy in terms of cost-effectiveness by way of a three-armed randomized control study between non-descent vaginal hysterectomy, total laparoscopic hysterectomy and total abdominal hysterectomy.

METHODS

A multicentre three-armed randomized control trial is being conducted at the professorial gynaecology unit of the North Colombo Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka and gynaecology unit of the District General Hospital, Mannar, Sri Lanka. The study population is women needing hysterectomy for non-malignant uterine causes. Patients with a uterus > 14 weeks, previous pelvic surgery, those requiring incontinence surgery or pelvic floor surgery, any medical illness which caution/contraindicate laparoscopic surgery and who cannot read and write will be excluded. The main exposure variable is non-descent vaginal hysterectomy and total laparoscopic hysterectomy. The control group will be patients undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy. The primary outcome is time to recover following surgery, which is the earliest time to resume all of the usual activities done prior to surgery. In total, 147 patients (49 per arm) are needed to have 80% power at α-0.01 considering a loss to follow-up of 20% to detect a 7-day difference between the three routes; TLH versus TAH versus NDVH. The economic evaluation will take a societal perspective and will include direct costs in relation to allocation of healthcare resources and indirect costs which are borne by the patient. A micro-costing approach will be adopted to calculate direct costs from the time of presentation to the gynaecology clinic up to 6 months after surgery. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) will be obtained by calculating the incremental costs divided by the incremental effects (time to recover and QALYs gained) for the intervention groups (NDVH and TLH) over the standard care (TAH) group.

DISCUSSION

The cost of the procedure, quality of life and pelvic organ function following the three main routes of hysterectomy are important to clinicians and healthcare providers, both in developed and developing countries.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study was registered in the Sri Lanka clinical trials registry (SLCTR/2016/020) and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform ( U1111-1194-8422 ) on 26 July 2016.