Psychometric properties of the pelvic organ prolapse symptom score

S. Hagen, C. M. A. Glazener, L. Sinclair, D. Stark, C. Bugge

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

61 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

To assess the internal consistency, construct validity and sensitivity to change of a pelvic organ prolapse symptom score (POP-SS).

Analysis of data from three prolapse studies, including symptomatic and asymptomatic women who completed the POP-SS.

(1) A community setting in New Zealand, (2) two gynaecology outpatient departments in Scotland and (3) a gynaecological surgery department in Scotland.

(1) Participants from a survey of postnatal women at 12-year follow up, invited to complete a prolapse questionnaire and have prolapse assessment, (2) new gynaecology outpatients presenting with prolapse symptoms, randomised to pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) or control and (3) women having anterior and/or posterior prolapse surgery, randomised to mesh insert or no mesh.

Data were analysed to assess internal consistency, construct validity and sensitivity to change of the POP-SS.

Cronbach's alpha, significance of differences in POP-SS scores between studies and significance of difference in POP-SS scores pre- to post-intervention.

For internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.723 to 0.828. Women having surgery had higher POP-SS scores than those having conservative management (mean difference 5.0, 95% CI 3.1-6.9), who in turn had higher scores than the asymptomatic women (mean difference 5.9, 95% CI 4.4-7.4). Significant differences in POP-SS score were detected after surgery and PFMT. The improvement due to surgery was significantly greater than that associated with PFMT (z = -3.006, P = 0.003).

The POP-SS has good internal consistency and construct validity and is sensitive to change.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)25-31
Number of pages7
JournalBJOG-An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Volume116
Issue number1
Early online date8 Oct 2008
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2009

Keywords

  • construct validity
  • internal consistency
  • outcome measure
  • pelvic organ prolapse
  • psychometric properties
  • sensitivity to change
  • quality-of-life
  • urinary-incontinence
  • floor dysfunction
  • women
  • questionnaire
  • disorders
  • ICIQ

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