Validation of the Arabic linguistic version of the Danish Prostatic Symptom Score for benign prostatic hyperplasia associated with lower urinary tract symptoms

Objective: To validate an Arabic version of the Danish Prostatic Symptom Score (DAN-PSS), a self-administered quality-of-life questionnaire. Patients and methods: The reliability of the Arabic DAN-PSS was assessed by determining the internal consistency (Cronbach’s α coefficient) and by assessing the test–retest reliability (Kappa [κ] test). Inter-domain associations were examined using Spearman’s correlation coefficient (r). The discrimination validity was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The sensitivity to change of the questionnaire and its individual items was assessed before and after intervention using a paired t-test. Results: In all, 106 men (55 patients with BPH and 51 without BPH symptoms) were included. A high level of internal consistency amongst the three domains of the answered Arabic DAN-PSS questionnaire was observed (Cronbach’s α > 0.70). Also, there was a good correlation between storage and voiding (r = 0.75; P < 0.001) and post-micturition symptoms domains (r = 0.51; P < 0.001). Voiding and post-micturition symptoms domains also had a good correlation (r = 0.51; P < 0.001). The agreement between the test and retest scores had a κ value of 0.83 (P < 0.001). The ROC curve had an area under the curve of 0.98. The sensitivity to change comparing patients with BPH who received medical or surgical intervention revealed Arabic DAN-PSS mean (SD) scores of 34.7 (17.7) and 17 (8.7) before and after the intervention, respectively (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The Arabic DAN-PSS is a clear questionnaire, valid, reliable, and responsive that can be used for BPH associated with lower urinary tract symptoms assessment and follow-up in clinical practice and research in Arabic-speaking patients. Abbreviations: AUC: area under the curve; BPH: benign prostatic hyperplasia; CI: confidence interval; DAN-PSS: Danish Prostatic Symptom Score; DRE: digital rectal examination; ICIQ-MLUTS: International Consultation on Incontinence Male LUTS Questionnaire; ICS: international continence society; IPSS: international Prostatic Symptom Score; IPSS-Arb: Arabic version of the IPSS; LUTS: lower urinary tract symptoms; PSA: prostatic specific antigen; PSS: prostatic symptom score; QoL: quality of life; ROC: receiver operating characteristic; UTI: urinary tract infection.