Validation of an Arabic version of the global Pelvic Floor Bother Questionnaire

To validate an Arabic version of the global Pelvic Floor Bother Questionnaire (PFBQ), a self-administered 9-item symptom assessment tool.

The translation-back translation method was used to create an Arabic version of the PFBQ. Clarity of terms and face validity were ensured by modifying the translated version according to comments from a focus group. The Arabic PFBQ was completed by 130 Lebanese women, who were allocated to affected (n=65) or control (n=65) groups on the basis of 2 verbally administered screening questions. Validity was assessed by comparing the PFBQ scores of the 2 groups. Test-retest reliability was evaluated in a subgroup of women who completed the PFBQ on 2 separate occasions; the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) for paired items was then calculated.

Total PFBQ scores of the affected and control groups were significantly different (31.52 ± 16.80 vs 6.73 ± 7.50; P<0.001). Mean scores for individual PFBQ items were significantly different between the 2 groups, with the exception of dyspareunia. The ICC was above 0.7 for all individual items, thus confirming test-retest reliability.

An Arabic version of the global PFBQ was developed and found to be both valid and reliable in the target population.