Chinese version of Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI) and Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ) have been validated for use in women with pelvic floor disorders. However, they are long with 46 and 33 items, respectively. This increased the burden of patients and limited its use in clinical setting. PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 are short forms of PFDI and PFIQ, respectively. PFDI-20 included 3 subscales with a total of 20 items, UDI-6, POPDI-6 and CRADI-8; while PFIQ-7 involves 7 items only. However, their Chinese versions have not been evaluated. 

This study evaluated how the Chinese version of PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 could predict the scores of PFDI and PFIQ subscales, so that the short forms can be considered for use in future.

This was an analysis of the original database collected from 597 women for validation of the Chinese PFDI and PFIQ.(1)  Women filled in the Chinese version of PFDI and PFIQ during their first consultation. Standard multiple regression was used to analysis how the items in UDI-6, POPDI-6 and CRADI-8 predicted UDI, POPDI and CRADI total scores, respectively. Standard multiple regression was also used to analysis how the items in UIQ-7, POPIQ-7 and CRADI-7 predicted UIQ, POPIQ and CRAIQ total scores, respectively.

597 women completed the previous study. Their mean age was 55.0±11.3 years and median parity was 2 (range 0-9). Among them, 325 (54%) had urinary symptoms, including incontinence, only, 192 (32%) had both urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse (POP), 65 (11%) had POP only, and 13 (2%) had urinary and fecal incontinence and 2 had urinary and fecal incontinence and POP. 

The UDI-6, POPDI-6 ad CRADI-8 explained 82.4% (R Square = 0.824), 83.3% (R Square = 0.833), and 90.7% (R Square = 0.907) of the variance in UDI, POPDI and CRADI total scores, respectively. In the UDI-6, each item recorded a beta value of 0.21 – 0.30 (P<0.001 for all items). For POPDI-6, each item recorded a beta value of 0.16 – 0.41 (P<0.001 for all items), and finally, each item of CRADI-6 recorded a beta value of 0.12 – 0.31 (P<0.001 for all items). The UIQ-7, POPIQ-7 and CRAIQ-7 explained 94.3% (R Square = 0.943), 96.3% (R Square = 0.963), and 95.8% (R Square = 0.958) of the variance in UIQ, POPIQ and CRAIQ, respectively. Each item in UIQ-7, POPIQ-7 and CRAIQ-7 recorded a beta value of 0.14 – 0.24 (P<0.001 for all items), 0.14 – 0.25 (P<0.001 for all items) and 0.12 – 0.24 (P<0.001 for all items), respectively.

PFDI-20 can explain 82.4% - 90.7% of the variance of PFDI subscales scores and PFIQ-7 can explain 94.3% - 96.3% of PFIQ subscales scores.

PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 can highly predict PFDI and PFIQ total scores. They can overcome the limitations of the long forms, and facilitate clinical and research use.

Chan SS, Cheung RY, Yiu AK, Li JC, Lai BP, Choy KW, Chung TK. Chinese validation of Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI) and Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ). Int Urogynecol J 2011;22:1305-1312