Criterion validity, test-retest reliability and sensitivity to change of the St George Urinary Incontinence Score.

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Gynecology
• Clinical Assessment

Background:

• Urinary incontinence significantly impacts quality of life.
• Accurate and reliable assessment tools are crucial for effective management.
• The St George Urinary Incontinence Score (SGUIS) is a patient-reported outcome measure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the criterion validity of the SGUIS.
• To determine the test-retest reliability of the SGUIS.
• To assess the SGUIS's sensitivity to change following treatment for urinary incontinence.

Main Methods:

• Women with urinary incontinence completed the SGUIS twice, one week apart.
• Frequency-Volume Charts (FVC) and 1-hour pad tests were used for objective measures.
• Patients received conservative or surgical treatment, with repeat assessments post-treatment.

Main Results:

• SGUIS showed moderate correlation with weekly leaks (r=0.610) and weaker correlation with pad test loss (r=0.257).
• Test-retest reliability was acceptable (mean difference 0.337).
• Post-treatment, SGUIS change correlated well with improved leaks (r=0.742) and moderately with pad test changes (r=0.531).

Conclusions:

• The SGUIS demonstrates adequate criterion validity against FVC and pad tests.
• The SGUIS exhibits acceptable test-retest reliability and is more responsive to treatment changes than other measures.
• The SGUIS is suitable for self-administration across various incontinence types.