Evaluation of the accuracy of the International Prostate Symptom Score in the assessment of lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic enlargement when translated into Shona

Abstract

Purpose: The main objective of the study was to validate the translated Shona version of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to benign prostate enlargement (BPE).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was done on 128 participants with LUTS due to BPE attending urology clinics at two teaching hospitals over five months (February to June 2018). The sample size was statistically calculated using MediCal software, assuming a correlation of 0.6, 99% power, and a 5% margin of error. The patients were randomised to answer either a translated Shona IPSS and Visual Prostate Symptom Score (VPSS) questionnaire or the English IPSS and VPSS questionnaire. A Pearson correlation coefficient was used to evaluate how the Shona and English IPSS compared to the VPSS. The patients were asked if they were literate and required assistance answering the questionnaire.

Results: Approximately 6.2% of the patients were illiterate with 64.1% having primary school education only. Of all the patients, 36.7% had between four and seven years of primary school education. The correlation between the English and Shona IPSS was compared to the VPSS. The results showed that both the Shona (r = 0.90, p ≤ 0.001) and English (r = 0.79, p ≤ 0.001) IPSS were positively related to the VPSS questionnaire. However, the Shona IPSS was more positively related to the VPSS questionnaire than the English IPSS. The relations were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.001).

Conclusion: There is a statistically significant correlation between the Shona IPSS and the VPSS questionnaire. The Shona IPSS was not affected by the patient’s level of education.