Validation of telephone administration of 2 condition-specific quality-of-life questionnaires.

OBJECTIVE: To validate telephone-administered versions of 2 condition-specific quality of life questionnaires: Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory and Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire.

STUDY DESIGN: Between December 2005 and September 2006, 55 women were recruited at their 6-week postpartum visit at a university hospital. Written and telephone versions of the 2 questionnaires were completed, with a 2-week interval between each version. The order of administration was randomized.

RESULTS: The scores of the written vs telephone versions of the questionnaires were not significantly different (PFDI: 9.8 vs 9.0 respectively; P = .36; PFIQ: 4.4 vs 3.7 respectively; P = .38). These scores were also highly correlated (PFDI, r = 0.96 and PFIQ, r = 0.90).

CONCLUSION: Telephone administration of these instruments is a reliable and accurate measure of the impact of pelvic floor disorders and may facilitate clinical and epidemiologic research by decreasing cost and improving access to research participants.