The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire (PCOSQ): a validation

Hum Reprod. 2004 Feb;19(2):371-7. doi: 10.1093/humrep/deh048.

Abstract

Background: We wished to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Questionnaire (PCOSQ), a questionnaire developed to measure the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Method: To assess reliability and validity, women recruited from an outpatient gynaecology clinic at the Jessop Wing, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield completed two copies of the PCOSQ and the Short Form-36 (SF-36). Secondary factor analysis was carried out to verify the composition of the dimensions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to assess face validity.

Results: Of the 92 women who consented, 82 women (89%) returned questionnaires at time 1, and 69 women (75%) returned questionnaires at time 2. All five PCOSQ dimensions were internally reliable with Cronbach's alpha scores ranging from 0.70 to 0.97. Intra-class correlation coefficients to evaluate test-retest reliability were high (range 0.89-0.95, P < 0.001). Construct validity was demonstrated by high correlations for all comparisons of similar scales of the SF-36 and PCOSQ (0.49 and 0.54). Acne was identified as an important area of HRQoL missing from the questionnaire.

Conclusions: The PCOSQ is a reliable instrument for measuring the HRQoL in women with PCOS. However, the validity of the questionnaire needs to be improved by incorporating a dimension on acne into the instrument.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Acne Vulgaris
  • Adult
  • Emotions
  • Ethnicity
  • Female
  • Health Status*
  • Humans
  • Infertility
  • Menstruation Disturbances
  • Mental Health
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / complications
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / psychology*
  • Quality of Life*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*