MATERIALS AND METHODS: Validity and reliability were studied in patients with and without lower urinary tract symptoms. Reliability was evaluated using the test-retest method and internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach's alpha. Sensitivity to change was expressed as the effect size in the pre-intervention versus post-intervention score in additional patients with lower urinary tract symptoms who underwent transurethral prostate resection.

RESULTS: Internal consistency was excellent. A high degree of internal consistency was observed for each of the 7 items and for the total score (Cronbach's alpha 0.53 and greater, and 0.68, respectively). The test-retest correlation coefficients of the 7 items were highly significant. The intraclass correlation coefficient was high at 0.51 and greater. There was a high degree of sensitivity and specificity to the effects of treatment. Significant change from baseline to posttreatment scores was observed in all 8 items in the treated but not in the control group.