Validation of the Tamil translation of the International Consultation on Incontinence modular Questionnaire on Vaginal Symptoms (ICIQ-VS)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To translate and validatethe International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire on vaginal symptoms (ICIQ VS) from English to Tamil. METHOD: With permission, ICIQ-VS questionnaire was translated to Tamil and a validation study was done on women attending the gynaecology clinics at district general hospitals, Mannar and Vavuniya. RESULTS: The basic characteristics of women with prolapse (n=63) versus women without prolapse (n=83) were as follows; age 60.68 (SD 11.64), median parity=4 (IQ1-IQ3=3-5), BMI 23.90 kg/m2 (SD 3.36) versus age 40.49 (SD 12.54), median parity=2(IQ1IQ3=1-3), BMI 25.84 kg/m2 (SD 4.84) respectively. Content validity was assessed by the level of missing data which was less than 3% for each item. Internal consistency as assessed by Cronbach’s coefficient alpha score was 0.83 (0.80-0.84). Kappa values for test–retest reliability of individual items ranged from0.59 to 0.74. The questionnaire differentiated between patients and controls in vaginal symptoms score(VSS) (P<0.001), sexual symptoms score(SSS) (p<0.05) and quality of life p<0.001). There was a positive correlation between pelvic organ prolapse quantification system (POP-Q) scores and VSS (rs= 0.67, p<0.001), SSS (rs= 0.26p<0.05) and quality of life (rs = 0.62, p<0.001).Vaginal symptoms (n=24) and quality of life (n=21) showed an improvement following surgery(Wilcoxon matched– pairs signed-rank test p<0.001 and p<0.001 respectively). CONCLUSION: The preliminary results for ICIQ VS (Tamil) validation are satisfactory and once completed it will be invaluable to objectively assess vaginal and sexual symptoms in Tamil speaking population in Sri Lanka