"Eyeball" POP-Q examination: shortcut or valid assessment tool?
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to compare the results of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) examination by visual estimation to measurement.


METHODS
Women with pelvic organ prolapse underwent both "eyeball"/estimated and measured POP-Q examinations by two trained examiners in a randomized order. POP-Q points and stage were analyzed using the paired t test, chi-square, Pearson's correlation, and kappa statistics.


RESULTS
Fifty subjects had a mean age of 60, mean BMI 27.8, and median parity of 2. The POP-Q stages by the measured technique were 18% (9/50) stage 1, 38% (19/50) stage 2, 44% (22/50) stage 3, and 0% (0/50) stage 4. The POP-Q stages based on estimation and measurement were highly associated (p < 0.05). Individual points did not differ significantly between the techniques and did not differ significantly between examiners (all p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Among examiners who routinely perform POP-Q examinations, there is no significant difference between "eyeball"/estimated and measured POP-Q values and stage.
Karp
Deborah R
DR
Department of Gynecology, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL 33331, USA.
Peterson
Thais V
TV
Jean-Michel
Marjorie
M
Lefevre
Roger
R
Davila
G Willy
GW
Aguilar
Vivian C
VC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014894:Weights and Measures