The urinary disorder-specific quality of life in patients after spinal cord injury: Polish translation, adaptation and validation of the Qualiveen and SF-Qualiveen

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).

An instrument for assessing quality of life in persons with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction: validation of the German short-form Qualiveen questionnaire

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective validation study.

OBJECTIVES

To validate and evaluate the measurement properties of the German Qualiveen short-form (SF) questionnaire in individuals with chronic neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) resulting from spinal cord injury (SCI).

SETTING

Tertiary neuro-urologic referral center in Switzerland.

METHODS

Fifty individuals with chronic (>12 months) NLUTD resulting from SCI presenting for a urodynamic follow-up examination were enrolled to complete both the full version Qualiveen and the SF-Qualiveen questionnaires twice within three weeks. The criterion validity and test-retest reliability were evaluated by calculating the interclass correlation coefficients. Internal consistency was evaluated by calculating Cronbach's alpha. Finally, the cross-sectional construct validity was evaluated using Spearman's rank correlations between the scores of the two questionnaires for bladder evacuation, urinary continence, and urinary tract infection sub-groups.

RESULTS

The mean age of the evaluated individuals was 53 years. The median duration of NLUTD was 14.9 years. The SF-Qualiveen showed good to excellent criterion validity with correlation coefficients greater than 0.8. Internal consistency was good overall and in the domains "bother with limitations" as well as "feelings" (>0.75). However, internal consistency in the domains "frequency of limitations" and "fears" was moderate-poor (0.68-0.37). The test-retest reliability was excellent with correlation coefficients greater than 0.9. Finally, the cross-sectional construct validity ranged from moderate to excellent (0.60-0.97).

CONCLUSIONS

The German SF-Qualiveen has shown excellent reliability and validity and variable internal consistency. Its brevity will increase compliance, and we therefore recommend to include the SF-Qualiveen in urologic assessments.

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.

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the SF-Qualiveen in people with multiple sclerosis

AIMS

The short form Qualiveen (SF-Qualiveen) is a simple, easy to understand, and valid scale used to evaluate the effect of urologic problems on quality of life in neurological patients. The aim of this study was to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Turkish version of the SF-Qualiveen in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS).

METHODS

Translation and cultural adaptation of the questionnaire was carried out after obtaining the necessary permissions. To decide on the final Turkish version of SF-Qualiveen, ten pwMS with urologic problems were pre-tested. Patients included in the study were asked to complete the Turkish SF-Qualiveen and urinary distress inventory-short form (UDI-6) questionnaires. The validity and reliability of the scale were determined after the retest 2 weeks later.

RESULTS

Sixty-three pwMS with urologic problems were enrolled. Internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.87) and reproducibility intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.97) were good for the total SF-Qualiveen. The Cronbach's α and ICC values ranged from 0.43 to 0.77 and 0.88-0.98 for SF-Qualiveen subscales, respectively. Content validity of the questionnaire was appropriate. A moderate correlation was founded between the SF-Qualiveen and the UDI-6 (r = 0.62; p < 0.001). There were no floor or ceiling effects in our study.

CONCLUSION

The Turkish version of the SF-Qualiveen is a valid and reliable questionnaire for pwMS.