Hungarian Translation and Validation of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Symptom Score.

Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) significantly affects women's quality of life, making the availability of validated, culturally adapted tools for reliable symptom evaluation essential. In this study, the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Symptom Score (POP-SS) was translated into Hungarian and validated, with the assessment of its psychometric properties for clinical and research use.

Methods: In total, 125 women diagnosed with symptomatic POP (Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification Score-POP-Q stage ≥ 2) completed the Hungarian POP-SS (POP-SS-H), the Hungarian version of the Australian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire (AFPQ-H), and the short version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF). Exploratory factor analysis was performed, McDonald's ω was used to assess internal consistency, and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to examine test-retest reliability over a 2-week interval.

Results: The POP-SS-H demonstrated strong psychometric properties (overall ICC = 0.96, p < 0.001). Item ICCs were 0.69-0.99, with "difficulty in emptying the bladder" being the most stable. The scale has a two-factor ("prolapse and urinary distress" and "abdominal strain and bowel discomfort") structure. McDonald's ω was 0.75, confirming its good internal consistency. The scale's convergent validity was demonstrated through correlations with AFPQ-H and WHOQOL-BREF subscale scores.

Conclusions: The POP-SS-H is a reliable and valid instrument for the assessment of prolapse-related symptoms. Its high degrees of test-retest reliability and internal consistency make it suitable for clinical follow-up and research. The tool addresses a significant gap in pelvic-floor disorder management in Hungary, although further research is recommended to assess its sensitivity in the tracking of symptom changes after treatment.