title: Feasibility, inter- and intra-rater reliability of physiotherapists measuring prolapse using the pelvic organ prolapse quantification system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is no agreed assessment tool for physiotherapists treating pelvic organ prolapse. This study hypothesised that pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) assessment was a feasible measure for use by physiotherapists and tested inter- and intra-rater agreement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six physiotherapists and two gynaecologists participated. Women were recruited from uro/gynaecology clinics. Two POP-Q examinations were performed at the first clinic (gynaecologist, physiotherapist 1) and 1 week later (physiotherapist 1, physiotherapist 2). The examination was timed and women completed a short questionnaire. Using weighted kappa, agreement of POP-Q stage was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-five women were recruited (median age 59, range 32-87 years). Agreement between gynaecologist and physiotherapist was substantial (weighted kappa = 0.63). Weighted kappa was 0.67 for inter-rater agreement between two different physiotherapists and 0.71 for intra-rater reliability for the same physiotherapist. Examination time was significantly shorter (difference 53 +/- 73 s, p < 0.001) for gynaecologists. Participants found the examination acceptable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  POP-Q is a feasible and reliable outcome measure for physiotherapists to use.
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Department, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, UK. diane.stark@nhs.net
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: Philippa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dall
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdel-Fattah
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hagen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index