Validation of telephone administration of 2 condition-specific quality-of-life questionnaires.
OBJECTIVE
To validate telephone-administered versions of 2 condition-specific quality of life questionnaires: Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory and Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire.


METHODS
Between December 2005 and September 2006, 55 women were recruited at their 6-week postpartum visit at a university hospital. Written and telephone versions of the 2 questionnaires were completed, with a 2-week interval between each version. The order of administration was randomized.


RESULTS
The scores of the written vs telephone versions of the questionnaires were not significantly different (PFDI: 9.8 vs 9.0 respectively; P = .36; PFIQ: 4.4 vs 3.7 respectively; P = .38). These scores were also highly correlated (PFDI, r = 0.96 and PFIQ, r = 0.90).


CONCLUSIONS
Telephone administration of these instruments is a reliable and accurate measure of the impact of pelvic floor disorders and may facilitate clinical and epidemiologic research by decreasing cost and improving access to research participants.
Geller
Elizabeth J
EJ
Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7570, USA. egeller@med.unc.edu
Barbee
Elizabeth R
ER
Wu
Jennifer M
JM
Loomis
Mary J
MJ
Visco
Anthony G
AG
D000328:Adult; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D017773:Pelvic Floor; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000175:diagnosis*