A comparison of the psychometric properties of three different Turkish scales assessing the level of knowledge about pelvic floor health

This study was aimed to compare the psychometric properties of the three different Turkish scales (Incontinence Quiz, Prolapse and Incontinence Knowledge Questionnaire, and Pelvic Floor Health Knowledge Test) which evaluate the level of knowledge on pelvic floor health. A total of 150 women (97 with pelvic floor dysfunction, 53 healthy) were included in this study. In addition to knowledge scales, the symptom scales Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 and Female Sexual Function Index were administered to the participants in order to classify them into pelvic floor dysfunction and healthy groups, and to test the discriminant validity of the scales. Knowledge scales were re-filled one week later for test-retest analysis (n=55). The scores of the scales, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent and discriminant validity, completion time, ease of use, comprehensibility and ceiling-floor effects were compared. The scores of the knowledge scales were similar in patients with pelvic floor dysfunction and healthy individuals (p>0.05). Incontinence Quiz has the lowest internal consistency and test-retest reliability (Cronbach's alpha: 0.642; ICC: 0.728). There was a strong correlation (r>0.50, p<0.01) between the total scores of the knowledge scales in the groups. There was no significant relationship between the knowledge scales and symptom scales in the groups (p>0.05). There was a difference between the knowledge scales in terms of usefulness, completion time and ease of completion (p<0.05); the scales were found to be similar in terms of comprehensibility and relevancy with the dysfunction (p>0.05). It was found that there was a ceiling effect in the diagnosis and treatment subscale of the Pelvic Floor Health Knowledge Test, while none of the scale/subscales had a floor effect. It is concluded that the three different Turkish knowledge scales on pelvic floor health are reliable, valid, easy, comprehensible, and less time-consuming scales, which can be used to measure the knowledge level of pelvic floor health in women.