Cross-cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Hebrew Version of the Vulvar Functional Status Questionnaire (VQ)

Abstract

Background: As yet, no Hebrew language vulvar functional status questionnaire exists. Aims: To perform a cross-cultural adaptation of a Hebrew version of the Vulvar Functional Status Questionnaire (VQ), a validated tool used for evaluating dyspareunia among women, and to evaluate the psychometric properties of this version by examining the correlations between results of the questionnaire among women with pain during intercourse and quality of life, level of anxiety, and pelvic floor function. Methods: The English version of the VQ underwent cross-cultural adaptation to Hebrew according to accepted guidelines. Eighty Hebrew-speaking women with vulvar pain, aged older than 18 years, participated in the study. Participants completed the VQ-Hebrew (VQ-H) (see Supplemental Digital Content, available at: https://links.lww.com/JWHPT/A89), the Hebrew versions of the health-related quality-of-life questionnaire (SF-12), the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Function Questionnaire (PISQ-12), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). All the participants completed the VQ-H again after 2 to 3 weeks. Psychometric properties (test-retest reliability, internal consistency, convergent validity, and factor analysis) were calculated. Results: The VQ-H demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability: intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.898 to 0.958 (P < .001); the Cronbach α was excellent (0.935). A significant correlation was found between the VQ-H and SF-12 scores (r =−0.360, P = .001). However, the correlation between the VQ-H and STAI and PISQ-12 scores was not statistically significant (r = 0.172, P = .127 and r =−0.185, P = .100, respectively). Factor analysis revealed a 4-factor solution representing daily function and pain provoked by or related to various activities. Conclusion: The VQ-H is a valid and reliable instrument. Its scores reflect the impaired function in all domains of vulvar pain among Hebrew-speaking women.