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01-10-2006 | Original Article

Validity of the incontinence severity index: comparison with pad-weighing tests

Authors: Hogne Sandvik, Montserrat Espuna, Steinar Hunskaar

Published in: International Urogynecology Journal | Issue 5/2006

Abstract

The incontinence severity index (ISI) consists of two questions, regarding frequency and amount of leakage. It categorizes urinary incontinence (UI) into slight, moderate, severe, and very severe. The purpose of this study was to test its validity. The index was compared with the results of pad-weighing tests performed by 200 incontinent women referred to a hospital clinic and 103 at a primary care incontinence clinic. Inconvenience was scored by a six-level Likert scale. Mean pad-weighing results (grams per 24 hours, 95% confidence intervals) were 7 (4–10) for slight, 39 (26–51) for moderate, 102 (75–128) for severe, and 200 (131–268) for very severe UI. Spearman’s correlation coefficient for pad-weighing results and severity index was 0.58 (p<0.01), and inconvenience increased significantly with increasing severity. The ISI demonstrated good criterion validity against 24-h pad tests. Good construct validity was indicated by a clear link between ISI and inconvenience.

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Title: Validity of the incontinence severity index: comparison with pad-weighing tests
Authors: Hogne Sandvik
Montserrat Espuna
Steinar Hunskaar
Publication date: 01-10-2006
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: International Urogynecology Journal / Issue 5/2006
Print ISSN: 0937-3462
Electronic ISSN: 1433-3023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-005-0060-z

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