title: Validation of the English translation of the low anterior resection syndrome score.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many patients having anterior resection for rectal cancer suffer from severe long-term bowel dysfunction, known as low anterior resection syndrome (LARS). The LARS score was developed in Denmark, and Swedish, Spanish and German versions have been validated. The aim of this study was to validate the English translation of the LARS score in British rectal cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rectal cancer patients who underwent an anterior resection in 12 UK centres received the LARS score questionnaire, the EORTC QLQ-C30 and a single ad hoc quality of life question. A subgroup of patients received the LARS score questionnaire twice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 80% and 451 patients were included in the analyses. A strong association between LARS score and quality of life (convergent validity) was found (P < 0.01), discriminative validity was good (P < 0.02) and the test-retest reliability was high (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.83).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The English translation of the LARS score has shown good psychometric properties comparable with recently published results from an international multicentre study. Thus, the English translation of the LARS score can be considered a valid and reliable tool for measuring LARS.
authors: Department of Surgery - Section for Colorectal Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.|Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Juul
authors: The Pelican Cancer Foundation, The Ark, Basingstoke, UK.|Department of Colorectal Surgery, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke, UK.
authors: N J
authors: NJ
authors: Battersby
authors: Department of Surgery - Section for Colorectal Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.|Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Christensen
authors: The Pelican Cancer Foundation, The Ark, Basingstoke, UK.|Department of Colorectal Surgery, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke, UK.
authors: A Z
authors: AZ
authors: Janjua
authors: Colorectal Surgery, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke, UK.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Branagan
authors: Department of Surgery - Section for Colorectal Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.|Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Laurberg
authors: Department of Surgery - Section for Colorectal Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors: K J
authors: KJ
authors: Emmertsen
authors: The Pelican Cancer Foundation, The Ark, Basingstoke, UK.|Department of Colorectal Surgery, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke, UK.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Moran
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003082:Colectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D003248:Constipation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013577:Syndrome; D014177:Translations; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Rectal cancer; bowel dysfynction; low anterior resection; low anterior resection syndrome; quality of life; scoring system