Cross-Cultural Validation of the Renzi Score for Obstructed Defecation Syndrome

Background The Renzi obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS) score is a validated and published method used for the diagnosis and staging of patients with ODS. It consists of a five-item score with a total score ranging from 0 to 20. This study aimed to cross-culturally validate the Renzi ODS score by translating it into Arabic. Methods This prospective study included 30 women who had undergone sacrocolpopexy for pelvic organ prolapse repair during the years 2021-2023. The Renzi ODS score was professionally translated from English to Arabic by native speakers, constructed, and validated by five professional and experienced individuals in the study domain for adequate content validity. Data were obtained through a face-to-face interview at baseline and by telephone four weeks later. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated to determine the homogeneity of the items, item-total, and item-item correlations, and to assess the impact of each item on internal consistency separately. A simple kappa coefficient for each item was assessed to evaluate test-retest reliability. Results A total of 30 women aged 42-74 years who had undergone sacrocolpopexy were included in this study. Overall Cronbach's alpha coefficient for all items indicated that the five items have enough homogeneity in the Renzi ODS score. Inter-item correlations showed a high degree of correlation across all items, which indicates a strong association between each item and the total score of the Renzi ODS. For test-retest reliability, results indicated good to excellent reliability of the Renzi ODS score. Conclusions This study validated the Arabic Renzi ODS score, confirming its role as a reliable and consistent tool for evaluating ODS in patients after sacrocolpopexy.