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Assessment instruments for lower urinary tract dysfunction in children: Symptoms, characteristics and psychometric
Jabiael Carneiro da Silva Filho1, Isabel Cristina Ramos Vieira Santos2, Marília Perrelli Valença3
1Nursing, Program of Post-Graduation in Nursing UPE / UEPB, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Insights
Validated instruments for assessing pediatric lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTS) are crucial. Six of nine reviewed instruments demonstrated good reliability, making them suitable for cross-cultural adaptation and validation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Urology
- Medical Informatics
Background:
- Instruments for assessing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are increasingly used in pediatric urology.
- There is a need for validated and reliable assessment tools for clinical practice in pediatric urology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze assessment instruments for pediatric lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTS).
- To evaluate symptoms, characteristics, and psychometric properties of these instruments.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed and LILACS databases.
- The PICO strategy guided the research question and search terms, including 'voiding disorders', 'LUTS', 'Child', 'Surveys', and 'Questionnaires'.
Main Results:
- Nine articles were identified, detailing instruments assessing bladder and/or bowel dysfunction.
- Instruments covered a wide range of symptoms (30 events), with parents as respondents in most cases (8/9).
- Six instruments demonstrated good reliability, and four showed good accuracy.
Conclusions:
- While only two instruments reported complete validation and reliability testing, six showed good reliability.
- These reliable instruments are eligible for cross-cultural adaptation and validation for international use.
Introduction:
The use of instruments to assess symptoms of the lower urinary tract has increased mainly when it comes to pediatric urology. The search for a validated and reliable one for use in clinical practice should be a concern of the professionals involved in the care of these children.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to analyze the assessment instruments for lower urinary tract dysfunction in children regarding: symptoms, characteristics and psychometric properties.
Study Design:
PubMed and Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences databases were searched. The PICO strategy was used to construct the research question and bibliographic search. Keywords included voiding disorders, LUTS, Child, Surveys and Questionnaires.
Results:
Nine articles were identified. The construct observed by all instruments was bladder dysfunction and seven instruments also assessed bowel dysfunction. Thirty different events were addressed. In eight instruments the respondents are the parents. The age of the target population ranged from three to eighteen years and regarding the number of items, an average of 21.8 items was observed. Six instruments showed good results of reliability and four presented good results of accuracy.
Conclusions:
The instruments included a wide range of symptoms related to dysfunction. Only two reported all validation and reliability tests, however six instruments showed good reliability results, making them eligible for the cross-cultural adaptation and validation process for use in countries other than those of the instrument's origin.
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