Validation of Bladder Health Instrument for Evaluation in Women

The Prevention of Lower Urinary Symptoms (PLUS) Research Consortium sought to optimize prevention of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in women and adolescent females across their life spans. The ability to measure bladder health and key risk and protective factors was crucial to the PLUS mission. To describe and measure the spectrum of bladder health in diverse populations, researchers needed a valid and reliable instrument. Prior to the Validation of Bladder Health Instrument for Evaluation in Women (VIEW) study, the PLUS Consortium’s work on the design of a bladder health instrument was a culmination of expert opinion, information from focus groups, and incorporation of previously validated items and language where appropriate, along with cognitive interviews of participants from the general public. The VIEW study prospectively collected data to test and validate bladder health instrument (BHI) items for inclusion in a final bladder health scale (BHS) that assessed the full range of bladder health of women. The study collected data from the general population using mailed surveys, from the clinical population using surveys and in-person evaluations, and from postpartum women.