Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A Systematic Review Using the COnsensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) Checklist.

BACKGROUND

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are recommended to measure the impact of a health condition or intervention effectiveness as they aim to capture what is most meaningful to patients. Several PROMs are used to evaluate pelvic organ prolapse (POP)-related domains, yet the measurement properties of these instruments have not been fully explored with a rigorous analysis of the methodological quality and quality of evidence.

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a systematic review reporting on the measurement properties of PROMs used for the assessment of POP-related domains in accordance with the COSMIN guidelines.

SEARCH STRATEGY

Five databases were searched from inception to December 2023.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Studies were eligible if they involved (1) at least one group of female adults diagnosed with or presenting with symptoms of POP; (2) a self-reported outcome measure (PROMs, questionnaires) to evaluate POP-related domains; and (3) at least one measurement property.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Methodological quality and measurement quality were assessed using the COSMIN risk of bias (ROB) checklist and the COSMIN criteria for good measurement properties.

MAIN RESULTS

A total of 13 PROMs were included. The BIPOP had the lowest ROB for Content Validity. The POP-SS was the only PROM with sufficient evidence of adequate construct validity and responsiveness to be used in both surgical and conservative management settings.

CONCLUSION

This original work identified a gap in evidence regarding the measurement qualities of identified PROMs used in the POP population.