Linguistic and cultural adaptation and validation of the questionnaire on vulvovaginal symptoms among the patients with vulvovaginal atrophy
- Authors: Apolikhina I.A.1,2, Kazakova S.N.1, Yarotskaya E.L.1, Gorbunova E.A.1, Bychkova A.E.1
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Affiliations:
- Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Centre for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia
- I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia (Sechenov University)
- Issue: No 10 (2023)
- Pages: 177-182
- Section: Guidelines for the Practitioner
- URL: https://journals.eco-vector.com/0300-9092/article/view/624748
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.18565/aig.2023.228
- ID: 624748
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Abstract
Objective: To carry out linguistic and cultural adaptation and validation of the English-language version of the Vulvovaginal Symptoms Questionnaire (VSQ) proposed by the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) as an effective tool for assessing the severity of symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA), as well as the effectiveness of its treatment.
Materials and methods: Following the protocols of such studies, the forward-backward translation of the VSQ questionnaire was done. Subsequently, an intermediate Russian-language version of the questionnaire was completed by 20 patients. After finding and correcting the discrepancies, the final Russian-language version of the VSQ questionnaire was approved. The study group included 120 postmenopausal patients with symptoms of VVA who completed the questionnaire twice (test-retest) with an interval of 10–14 days.
Results: The statistical analysis of the data (Cronbach’s α=0.983) showed a high degree of reliability of the test results. This conclusion is also supported by very high indicators of retest reliability of the questionnaire (ICC>0.9). The results of the intra-class correlation coefficient and retest reliability of the Russian-language version of the VSQ questionnaire prove that it is a reliable and valid tool for assessing the severity of the VVA symptoms.
Conclusion: The research findings show that the Russian-language version of the VSQ questionnaire is an effective, reliable and valid method for the subjective assessment of the severity of the VVA symptoms. It is recommended to use this questionnaire in research and in the daily practice of gynecologists including the assessment of therapy effectiveness.
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About the authors
Inna A. Apolikhina
Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Centre for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia; I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia (Sechenov University)
Author for correspondence.
Email: i_apolikhina@oparina4.ru
Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Head of the Department of Aesthetic Gynecology and Rehabilitation
Russian Federation, Moscow; MoscowSvetlana N. Kazakova
Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Centre for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia
Email: s-juice@mail.ru
post-graduate student of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Perinatology and Reproductology
Russian Federation, MoscowEkaterina L. Yarotskaya
Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Centre for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia
Email: e_yarotskaya@oparina4.ru
Dr. Med. Sci., Head of the Department of International Cooperation
Russian Federation, MoscowElena A. Gorbunova
Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Centre for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia
Email: el_gorbunova@oparina4.ru
obstetrician-gynecologist at the Department of Aesthetic Gynecology and Rehabilitation
Russian Federation, MoscowAnastasia E. Bychkova
Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Centre for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia
Email: a_bychkova@oparina4.ru
obstetrician-gynecologist at the Department of Aesthetic Gynecology and Rehabilitation
Russian Federation, MoscowReferences
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