Translation and validation of the Utian Quality of Life Scale in Serbian peri- and postmenopausal women

The Czech version of the Utian Quality of Life Scale questionnaire assessing women's quality of life during menopause

Introduction

Menopause is a physiological process, forming a part of a lifetime that most women go through. This period of life is briefly described by experts as a triple transformation: biological, social, and psychological. For menopausal women, health care professionals can use one of 10 specific questionnaires to assess health-related quality of life and its symptoms. The authors herein speak about the preparation of a Czech version of one such questionnaire - the Utian Quality of Life Scale (UQOL).

Material and methods

A Czech version of the UQOL was created by repeated and backward translation. It was validated on a sample of 204 women after natural menopause (45-65 years old). We judged the reliability of the Czech version of UQOL using Cronbach's a. We assessed the instrument's validity by means of confirmation factor analysis.

Results

The authors modified the original version of the UQOL. The Czech version has 4 new domains with 18 items. This form was created using the results of confirmation factor analysis.

Conclusions

The Utian Quality of Life Scale questionnaire is completed by the women themselves, thus meeting the golden rule of all quality-of-life research stating that the primary source should be data from the client him/herself. However, this requirement raises some methodological problems.

Climacteric women at work: What lurks behind poor occupational quality of life?

Physical and psychological changes during menopausal transition may affect various aspects of everyday functioning including women's work ability and work productivity. Presence of menopausal symptoms has been well-acknowledged to negatively affect quality of life (QOL). However, data on factors associated with occupational QOL among women at this period of life are lacking. The authors' purpose in this study was to evaluate factors affecting occupational QOL in a sample of employed mid-life women who are experiencing menopause. The authors performed a cross-sectional study among 335 employed women aged 40 to 65 years from Serbia. Socio-demographic questionnaire, Utian's Quality of Life Scale, and Beck's Depression Inventory were used in data collection. Women's average monthly household income and educational level were positively correlated, while having uterine prolapse was negatively associated with occupational QOL. Significant regression models assessing impact of gynecological illnesses and menopause-specific symptoms on occupational QOL (direct value and categories-below vs. above mean) showed that having insomnia, uterine prolapse, and genital inflammations may differentiate "good" from "poor" occupational QOL. Uterine prolapse, genital inflammation, and insomnia were associated with worse occupational QOL among working women in menopausal transition.

Menopausal transition in Southern Europe: comparative study of women in Serbia and Portugal

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess and compare general menopausal quality of life in Serbia and Portugal.

METHODS

In all, 1,503 women aged between 40 and 65 years from Belgrade, Serbia, and Lisbon, Portugal, were included in the study. A sociodemographic questionnaire and the Utian Quality of Life (UQOL) scale were used in data collection.

RESULTS

The average age of women was 50 (SD = 5.61) years. Serbian and Portuguese women differed in all sociodemographic characteristics except for body mass index (BMI) and relationship status. There were no significant differences in UQOL total score (P = 0.629) or UQOL sexual score (P = 0.396) between Serbian and Portuguese women. However, occupational (P < 0.001) and health (P = 0.003) scores were significantly higher in the Serbian sample, whereas Portuguese women had higher emotional scores (P < 0.001). Based on the total study sample, women with an average UQOL score were more highly educated, employed, non-smokers, and physically active, and more likely to obtain medical assistance for climacteric symptoms compared with women who reported lower UQOL score. In addition to these characteristics, women with a higher UQOL score had higher annual income, no recent illnesses, and optimal BMI compared with women who reported a lower UQOL score.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that diverse populations of midlife women can have similar perceptions of quality of life as it encompasses broad dimensions of menopausal somatic and psychosocial symptoms, as well as habits and lifestyle. Further comparative studies using the UQOL scale are warranted to offer more information on the delicate factors influencing well-being in climacteric women worldwide.

Factors associated with sexual quality of life among midlife women in Serbia

PURPOSE

To assess factors associated with better sexual quality of life (QOL) in midlife period among women who are and are not sexually active.

METHODS

Participants were 500 women aged 40-65 years from Belgrade, Serbia. Data were collected through general questionnaire (regarding socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, general medical, and gynecological history) in which one item investigated having partnered sexual activity (heterosexual intercourses). The sexual domain of the Utian Quality of Life Scale was used to assess the sexual QOL. The sexual QOL consisted of reflections on the satisfaction with frequency of sexual interactions, as well as sexual and romantic life in general. Higher scores indicated better sexual QOL.

RESULTS

Most women were sexually active in midlife (81.6%). The mean sexual QOL score for the overall sample was 9.99 (range 3-15). The level of sexual QOL did not differ between sexually active and non-active women. Factors associated with better sexual QOL in sexually active menopausal women were being married or coupled, being physically active, having more children, having hot flushes, and not having tachycardia. Factors associated with better sexual QOL in sexually inactive menopausal women were drinking alcohol, being physically active, not having insomnia or skin rash.

CONCLUSIONS

Sexual QOL among Serbian urban midlife women was good and did not differ between women who were sexually active and those who were not. Further studies are needed to determine in what manner women who are not sexually active in midlife achieve high level of satisfaction with their sexual QOL.

Factors associated with general and health-related quality of life in menopausal transition among women from Serbia

This study assessed factors associated with quality of life (QOL) among Serbian peri- and postmenopausal women using two menopause-specific scales. This cross-sectional study included 500 women aged 40-65 years who had a gynecologic check-up in one of two Community Health Centers in Belgrade during February 2014 to January 2015. Women completed: a questionnaire about socio-demographics, habits, and health status; a menopause-specific questionnaire, Utian's Quality of Life Scale (UQOL); and a Women's Health Questionnaire (WHQ) and Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI). Higher education was associated with better occupational UQOL and memory/concentration, but with lower emotional UQOL and more anxiety/fears. City center residency was associated with better occupational and sexual UQOL. Being employed was associated with better occupational UQOL and lower anxiety/fears. Higher income was associated with better emotional UQOL. Not having uterine prolapse, insomnia, or tachycardia was associated with better occupational UQOL and fewer sleep problems. Higher parity was associated with better sexual UQOL. Having regular recreation was associated with better health and sexual UQOL but with more frequent vasomotor symptoms. Leaner women felt more attractive. QOL during the menopausal transition does not entail only somatic symptoms and therefore requires a more comprehensive approach that includes psychosocial underpinnings.

Validation and reliability of the Turkish Utian Quality-of-Life Scale in postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE

There are a limited number of menopause-specific quality-of-life scales for the Turkish population. This study was conducted to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Turkish Utian Quality-of-Life Scale in postmenopausal women.

METHODS

The study group was comprised of 250 postmenopausal women who applied to a training and research hospital's menopause clinic in Turkey. A survey form and the Turkish Utian quality-of-Life Scale were used to collect data, and the Turkish version of Short Form-36 was used to evaluate reliability with an equivalent form. Language-validity, content-validity, and construct-validity methods were used to assess the validity of the scale, and Cronbach's α coefficient calculation and the equivalent-form reliability methods were used to assess the reliability of the scale.

RESULTS

The Turkish Utian Quality-of-Life Scale was determined to be a valid and reliable instrument for measuring the quality of life of postmenopausal women. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrates that the instrument fits well with 23 items and a four-factor model. The Cronbach's α coefficient for the quality-of-life domains were as follows: 0.88 overall, 0.79 health, 0.78 emotional, 0.76 sexual, and 0.75 occupational. Reliability of the instrument was confirmed through significant correlations between scores on the Turkish version of the Utian Quality-of-Life Scale and the Turkish version of the Short Form-36 (r = 0.745, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This research emphasizes that the Turkish Utian Quality-of-Life Scale is reliable and valid in postmenopausal women-it is a useful instrument for measuring quality of life during menopause.