How reliable is a self-administered questionnaire in detecting sexual abuse: a retrospective study in patients with pelvic-floor complaints and a review of literature.
BACKGROUND
Sexual abuse and sexual functioning are topics that health professionals find difficult to discuss. Women who present with pelvic-floor complaints often experience sexual difficulties; therefore, questions regarding sexual function should be a routine part of screening. Furthermore, pelvic-floor complaints are correlated with sexual abuse and asking about abuse should be a routine part of screening as well. Considering the fact that many practitioners have difficulty enquiring about abuse, we have suggested that a questionnaire may be helpful in improving the recognition and management of patients who have a history of sexual abuse.


OBJECTIVE
The efficiency of detecting sexual abuse by a self-administered questionnaire.


METHODS
Report of sexual abuse in a self-administered pelvic-floor questionnaire before visiting our outpatient pelvic-floor department was evaluated with the Pelvic Floor Leiden Inventories (PelFIs) administered by a pelvic- floor clinician in a later stage.


METHODS
The percentage of sexual abuse detected by a taken questionnaire administered by a pelvic-floor clinician not confessed during a previous self-administered questionnaire.


RESULTS
Sexual abuse was reported in 20 patients with pelvic-floor dysfunction during administration of the PelFIs and were also evaluated on our pelvic-floor department. Only six of the patients (30%) did not note in the self-administered questionnaire that they had a history of sexual abuse.


CONCLUSIONS
A self-administered questionnaire for pelvic-floor complaints is reliable in detecting sexual abuse and can be helpful in daily practice.
Elzevier
Henk W
HW
Department of Urology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. h.w.elzevier@lumc.nl
Voorham-van der Zalm
Petra J
PJ
Pelger
Rob C M
RC
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health