Reliability and Validity of the Functional Pelvic Pain Scale: A New Measure of Pelvic Pain Severity

Abstract

This study presents reliability and validity data from a small sample of pelvic pain clinic patients on a self-report rating scale, termed the Functional Pelvic Pain Scale (FPPS), designed to measure pelvic pain intensity as it relates to functions of daily living (bladder and bowel function, intercourse, walking, running, lifting, working, and sleeping).Study design: in a preliminary study, the FPPS was completed by 24 patients from a pelvic pain clinic, and 27 female medical students not having a complaint of pelvic pain. In a subsequent study of reliability and validity, 20 women attending the pelvic pain clinic completed the FPPS during their visit, and completed Daily Pain Records (DPRS) for every day of their next menstrual cycle, as well as a second FPPS at the end of their cycle.Results: preliminary results demonstrate that the FPPS shows discriminant validity between women without a complaint of pelvic pain and those with pelvic pan (p< 0.0001). Results in the second study demonstrate that the FPPS has satisfactory levels of test-retest reliability (r= 0.8048 p= 0.004) and construct validity. Functional pelvic pain scale scores showed statistically significant correlations with the highest monthly activity impairment (r= 0.5433 p= 0.007) and the average uterine pain intensity (r= 0.4436 p= 0.025).Conclusion: the FPPS is a sensitive and reliable measure of pelvic pain intensity through, time, demonstrating evidence of validity. The FPPS shows promise as a method for evaluation of pelvic pain severity. Its predictive value in research and clinical practice has yet to be determined.