Validation of the prolapse quality-of-life questionnaire (P-QOL): An Afrikaans version in a South African population

Abstract

Background. The prolapse quality-of-life questionnaire (P-QOL) has been validated and translated into eight languages. The lack of an Afrikaans version of the P-QOL limits studies in Afrikaans-speaking patients with pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

Objective. To validate an Afrikaans version of the P-QOL in a South African population.

Methods. The P-QOL was translated into Afrikaans by a medical translator and three gynaecologists. This descriptive study determined construct validity comparing 25 symptomatic (64.1%, n=39) and 14 asymptomatic (35.9%, n=39) participants' median domain scores. The POP stage was determined according to the POP quantification (POP-Q) scale and compared with their domain scores by means of percentages. A second P-QOL was completed and the stability determined by the test-retest method. The Cronbach alpha was used to determine internal consistency and the kappa value to determine measure of agreement.

Results. Symptomatic participants had higher median domain scores than asymptomatic participants. All asymptomatic participants had stage 0 POP and 33.3% of symptomatic participants had stage III POP. Stability was good, with an average of above 50%. The mean Cronbach alpha value was 0.94 and the kappa value indicated moderate to good strength of agreement between items (к=0.41 - 0.80).

Conclusion. The Afrikaans P-QOL was found to be valid and reliable to determine quality of life in women with POP, correlating with the findings of other validation studies and supporting the evidence that the P-QOL is a high-quality disease-specific quality-of-life questionnaire.