Exploratory factory analysis and predicted probabilities of a Chinese version of Dysfunctional Voiding Symptom Score...

To evaluate the reliability, validity, and predicted probabilities of a Chinese version of the Dysfunctional Voiding Symptom Score (DVSS) and to explore the latent factors underlying dysfunctional voiding.

We enrolled 60 children (38 girls and 22 boys) with a diagnosis of dysfunctional voiding. The Chinese version of the DVSS was completed at the clinics and again 1 week later. We enrolled 235 age- and gender-matched healthy children as the control group. The DVSS consisted of 10 items with each item scores 0-3. The internal consistency and test-retest reliability was assessed with Chronbach's alpha test and intraclass correlation (ICC), respectively. The predictive validity was analyzed using logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Factor analysis was used to classify symptoms into latent factors. The bayesian method was used to adjust the predicted probabilities of the DVSS.

Mean total scores of the DVSS in the cases and controls were 9.65 ± 3.87 and 4.13 ± 2.60, respectively. The alpha coefficient was 0.448, showing a heterogeneous composition of symptoms. Test-retest reliability was 0.89. The chosen cut-off point for the total score of DVSS was 6.66, with a sensitivity of 81.67%, and specificity of 82.63%. Factor analysis revealed three latent variables. Using the bayesian method, the application of the DVSS in areas with different prevalence figures produced significantly different probabilities of dysfunctional voiding.

The Chinese version of the DVSS is reliable with validity. With the same total score, we found significantly different predicted probabilities of dysfunctional voiding.