Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory Short Form (PFDI-20) and Pelvic Floor...

Introduction: Throughout life, the characteristics of a woman's pelvic floor change due to physiological changes, including pregnancy, childbirth and menopause. These changes can predispose them to pelvic floor dysfunction. Objectives: To develop a linguistically and psychometrically adapted Portuguese (European) version of the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20) and Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ-7), for assessing symptoms and quality of life in women with pelvic floor dysfunction. Methods: This cross-cultural study used a translation method, followed by an assessment of the validity and reliability of the instruments. The Portuguese versions of the PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 were completed by 287 women (33.47 ± 8.2 years). To assess reliability, internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha (CA). Descriptive statistical analysis was applied for sociodemographic and clinical characterization, as well as questionnaire scoring. Spearman's correlation (r) and Student's t-test were used to analyze criterion and construct validity. Results: The Portuguese versions of PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 were effectively translated and adjusted, revealing excellent internal consistency, as reflected in Cronbach's alpha values of 0.853 for PFDI-20 and 0.937 for PFIQ-7. No Ceiling Effect was observed, while a Floor Effect was identified in both Portuguese versions of the PFDI-20 (5.2%) and PFIQ-7 (41.5%). Significant correlations were established between the instruments and five questions. Conclusions: The Portuguese versions of the PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 showed adequate psychometric characteristics and are valid for use in the Portuguese population.