[A modified IPSS score: value of a choice of qualitative answers].
BACKGROUND
The IPSS score is a self-administered questionnaire considered to be the reference instrument to evaluate the impact of lower urinary tract symptoms in men. However; patients may encounter difficulties answering the standard questionnaire. This study was designed to analyse whether modification of these "standard" (or numerical, N) items by a choice of literal (L) answers induced any modifications of the psychometric characteristics of the IPSS questionnaire.


METHODS
This prospective single-centre study compared the two questionnaires applied in the same order to a cohort of 109 patients with voiding disorders. These questionnaires were administered to the patients on two occasions at an interval of 15 days.


RESULTS
Cronbach's coefficient alphas calculated on D0 were 0.78 (L) and 0.81 (N). Pearson's correlation coefficients between the two IPSS scores on D0 and D15 were high (0.89 and 0.95). The comparison of the N and L questionnaires shows a mean difference -0.25 between the scores with a normal fluctuation interval [-7.6; 7.1] on D0 and -0.89 [-6.3; -4.5] on D15. Test-retest on the 15th day showed a good correlation for the two questionnaires (0.87 for N and 0.85 for L).


CONCLUSIONS
The proposed modification of the choice of answers to the IPSS questionnaire does not alters its psychometric qualities. Patients appear to prefer the literal version of the questionnaire compared to the standard questionnaire (62% versus 31%).
Perrin
Paul
P
Service d'Urologie, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Pierre Bénite, France. paul.perrin@chu-lyon.fr
Némoz
Chantal
C
Paparel
Philippe
P
Ruffion
Alain
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*