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Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research

Measuring bothersome menopausal symptoms: development and validation of the MenoScores questionnaire

Authors: Kamma Sundgaard Lund, Volkert Dirk Siersma, Karl Bang Christensen, Frans Boch Waldorff, John Brodersen

Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

The experience of menopausal symptoms is common and an adequate patient-reported outcome measure is crucial in studies where women are treated for these symptoms. The aims of this study were to identify a patient-reported outcome measure for bothersome menopausal symptoms and, in the absence of an adequate tool, to develop a new measure with high content validity, and to validate it using modern psychometric methods.

Methods

The literature was reviewed for existing questionnaires and checklists for bothersome menopausal symptoms. Relevant items were extracted and subsequently tested in group interviews, single interviews, and pilot tests. A patient-reported outcome measure was drafted and completed by 1504 women. Data was collected and psychometrically validated using item-response theory Rasch Models.

Results

All questionnaires identified in the literature lacked content validity regarding bothersome menopausal symptoms and none were validated using item-response theory. Our content validation resulted in a draft measurement encompassing 122 items across eight domains. Following psychometrical validation, the final version of our patient-reported outcome measure, named the MenoScores Questionnaire, encompassed 51 items, including one single item, covering 11 scales.

Conclusion

Menopausal symptoms are multidimensional with some symptoms unquestionably related to the menopausal transition. We identified four constructs of importance: hot flushes, day-and-night sweats, general sweating, and menopausal-specific sleeping problems. The MenoScores Questionnaire is condition-specific with high content validity and adequate psychometrical properties. It is designed to measure bothersome menopausal symptoms and all scales are developed and psychometrically validated using item-response theory Rasch Models.

Trial registration

Approved by the Danish Data Agency (J.nr. 2015–41-4057). Ethics Committee approval was not required.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Measuring bothersome menopausal symptoms: development and validation of the MenoScores questionnaire
Authors
Kamma Sundgaard Lund
Volkert Dirk Siersma
Karl Bang Christensen
Frans Boch Waldorff
John Brodersen
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7525
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-018-0927-6

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