Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the underactive bladder questionnaire to portuguese.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to perform the translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Underactive Bladder Questionnaire (UAB-q). METHODS: The study design included the Portuguese translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the UAB-q in 90 patients from a urology outpatient clinic following international methodology. The psychometric properties tested were the validity, reliability, internal consistency and stability of the instrument. RESULTS: The content validity index at the item (I-CVI) and scale level (S-CVI) were above 0.80 and did not require changes. Regarding the reliability analysis, Cronbach's alpha was 0.79. The internal consistency and the base time stability (test-retest) had excellent indexes; all were above 0.90. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the UAB-q is a valid, reproducible and reliable instrument for screening underactive bladders and is a potentially useful tool to guide health actions and improve the care of underactive patients.

Transcultural translation and validation of the FIGO Assessment Scoring System (FASS) to Portuguese language.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Our aim was to validate the Brazilian Portuguese version of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Assessment Scoring System (FASS) to identify and quantify signs and symptoms related to pelvic floor dysfunction. METHODS: One hundred and seventy-nine women aged 18-82 (47.68 ± 14.42) years participated in this validation study. Collected data included a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, application of the FASS, and physical examination using the Pelvic Prgan Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system. The translation and cross-cultural adaptation were performed following the international methodology. The psychometric properties tested were criterion validity, construct validity, stability, and reliability. For this purpose, the comparison with POP-Q findings and between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, test-retest and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) were used, respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to assess the level of agreement between evaluations (inter- and intraobservers). P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The calculated Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.76, indicating strong reliability for the validation sample. Symptomatic women had different scores on all FASS items as well as total score when compared with asymptomatic women (p < 0.001). Intraobserver coefficient ranged from 0.91 (urinary symptoms) to 0.98 (FASS total score), indicating excellent concordance level in all items. Interobserver coefficient ranged from 0.47 (intestinal symptoms) to 0.90 (FASS total score), indicating moderate to excellent correlation. CONCLUSIONS: The psychometric properties tested in the FASS Portuguese version proved to be a valid and reliable for evaluating signs and symptoms related to pelvic floor function in Brazilian women.

Electrophysiological evaluation of the pudendal nerve and urethral innervation in female stress urinary incontinence.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Although still a matter of debate, stress urinary incontinence (SUI) may be accompanied by damage to urethral and pelvic floor innervations, thus promoting dysfunctions of the urethral support and sphincteric closure mechanisms. The aim of this study was to analyze the pelvic floor and urethral innervations through pelvic electrophysiological tests to identify whether neurological alterations interfere with urinary continence and urethral functional activity. METHODS: This prospective study included 52 women, 33 with clinically and urodynamically proven SUI and 19 continent volunteers matched for age, height, parity, and number of vaginal deliveries by the propensity score method. The patients were divided according to the severity of urinary loss evaluated by measuring abdominal leak point pressure (ALPP). Pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML), pudendal somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) latencies, urethral and clitoral sensory thresholds, and urethroanal reflex latency were tested. RESULTS: SUI and control subjects did not differ in PNTML, SSEP latency, and clitoral sensory thresholds. However, reduced responsiveness to urethral electrosensitivity and prolonged urethroanal reflex latency were detected in most incontinent patients. In addition, urethral electrosensitivity was altered in suspected intrinsic sphincteric dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Urethral afferent pathways can be altered in women with SUI and may play an important role in evoking intrinsic sphincteric dysfunction.

Validation of the Prolapse Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (P-QoL) in Portuguese version in Brazilian women.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study is to validate the Portuguese translated version of the Prolapse Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (P-QoL). METHODS: Ninety-eight women completed the P-QoL questionnaire translated into Portuguese at baseline and on the second visit, 2 weeks later. Clinical data and Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification Index (POP-Q) according to the International Continence Society were obtained. Psychometric properties of the questionnaire were assessed. RESULTS: Sixty-eight symptomatic and 30 asymptomatic women for POP symptoms were studied. Most patients presented POP-Q > 2. The P-QoL demonstrated good psychometric properties. The test-retest reliability confirmed a highly significant stability between the total scores for each domain (P < 0.0001). The construct validation distinguished differences in P-QoL questionnaire scores between symptomatic and asymptomatic women. CONCLUSION: The Portuguese version of the P-QoL questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument to assess quality of life in Brazilian women with pelvic organ prolapse.