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Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and measurement properties of the dysmenorrhea symptom interference (DSI)
Sara Giovanna de Melo Mantovan1, Guilherme Tavares de Arruda2, Thuane Da Roza1
1Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health and Sport Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, UDESC, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
Background:
The Dysmenorrhea Symptom Interference (DSI) scale is a reliable, valid, and responsive tool to assess the interference of menstrual pain in the physical, mental, and social activities of women.
Objective:
To translate and cross-culturally adapt the DSI scale into Brazilian-Portuguese (DSI-BrPt) and investigate the measurement properties of this version in on- and off-menses versions.
Methods:
The original (United States) scale was translated and culturally adapted following existing guidelines. Measurement properties of the DSI-BrPt were investigated in 1387 women with dysmenorrhea. Reliability was analyzed via intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and test-retest reliability. Furthermore, structural validity, internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), cross-cultural validity, construct validity (correlation with WHODAS 2.0 and SPS-6 scores questionnaires), and floor and ceiling effects were determined.
Results:
No significant adaptations were needed during the translation process of the DSI-BrPt. The values of Cronbach's α were adequate (α ≥0.87) for the unidimensional scale. The test-retest reliability was considered adequate (ICC >0.78) and there was no systematic error for both on-menses and off-menses versions. Moreover, the DSI had a positive and strong correlation with WHODAS 2.0. There were no floor and ceiling effects neither for the total sample, nor among off-menses, or on-menses women.
Conclusion:
The DSI-BrPt scale has been translated and cross-culturally adapted successfully. The DSI-BrPt scale presented adequate measurement properties. The scale is valid and reliable, and, therefore, an adequate tool for monitoring dysmenorrhea symptoms in Brazilian women during and between menses.
