title: Validation of the traditional Chinese version of the prolapse quality of life questionnaire (P-QOL) in a Mandarin-speaking Taiwanese population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To validate the traditional Chinese translated version of the prolapse quality of life questionnaire (P-QOL).
  
  
  METHODS
  The P-QOL questionnaire was translated into traditional Chinese characters and administered to women recruited from gynecologic outpatient clinics of Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. After the test-retest reliability and internal consistency were established in a pilot study, all participants completed the P-QOL questionnaire and were examined in the lithotomy position using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification System (POP-Q). The construct validity was assessed by comparing symptom scores and quality-of-life domain scores between symptomatic and asymptomatic women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 244 women recruited, 159 were symptomatic for pelvic organ prolapse, and 85 were asymptomatic. The test-retest reliability confirmed a significant positive monotonic correlation between the total scores of each domain (n = 30, Spearman's rho was from 0.411 to 0.888, p < 0.05 of all). All items achieved a Cronbach α > 0.80 showing good internal consistency. Among the 18 symptom questions, the scores differed significantly between symptomatic and asymptomatic women for 12/18 symptom questions. These 12 questions referred to the prolapse/vaginal symptoms. All the quality of life domains differed significantly (p < 0.05) between symptomatic and asymptomatic women except for the domain of sleep/energy (p = 0.108).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The traditional Chinese language version of the P-QOL is a reliable instrument for the assessment of symptom severity and impact on quality of life in women with pelvic organ prolapse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Fei-Chi
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Chiayi, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Li-Ching
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Fu-Tsai
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Kung
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address: gynh2436@cgmh.org.tw.
authors.forename: Kuan-Hui
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D014175:Translating
keywords: P-QOL; pelvic organ prolapsed; questionnaire; traditional Chinese version; validation study