Symptom severity and QOL scales for urinary incontinence.
Symptoms of incontinence are common, particularly among older people, and incontinence can have a severe effect on the quality of life of some individuals at any age. A number of treatments are available, most of which aim to reduce the occurrence of incontinent episodes or to limit the effects of the disorder on everyday life. In research and clinical practice, it is essential that the symptoms and effects of incontinence be properly assessed and recorded. The only valid means of measuring patients' perspectives is through the use of psychometrically robust self-report questionnaires. Incontinence may be experienced as part of the symptom complex of a range of conditions (e.g., benign prostatic diseases or fistulas), and the effect of incontinence on quality of life varies depending on the severity of the condition and other psychosocial and medical factors. Questionnaires with acceptable levels of psychometric testing are identified and recommended for use in clinical practice and research investigations according to the following categories: (1) questionnaires to assess symptoms of incontinence, (2) generic health-related quality-of-life questionnaires to assess the effect of incontinence on quality of life, and (3) incontinence-specific measures to assess the effect and bothersomeness of incontinence on quality of life.
Naughton
Michelle J
MJ
Department of Public Health Services, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA. naughton@wfubmc.edu
Donovan
Jenny
J
Badia
Xavier
X
Corcos
Jacques
J
Gotoh
Momokazu
M
Kelleher
Con
C
Lukacs
Bertrand
B
Shaw
Christine
C
D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*