CROSS-CULTURAL ADAPTATION AND VALIDATION OF THE CONSTIPATION SCORING SYSTEM FOR THE BRAZILIAN POPULATION

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Beyond Rome IV Criteria, the assessment of functional constipation in clinical practice can also be obtained by the Constipation Scoring System (CSS). By accessing the CSS, health professionals are able to measure this dysfunction, guiding initial therapeutic approach and post-treatment response. In addition, the CSS enables the standardization of results concerning functional constipation research. Objective To promote translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the CSS for the Brazilian population. Methods To attain the score in Portuguese, the adaptation was accomplished in four steps (translation, back translation, application and adjustments). Afterward, the validation and adaptation to the Brazilian population was performed through test-retest. Results For adults, the convergent validity of the Brazilian version of the CSS showed a significant correlation to the Rome IV Criteria evinced by the positive Spearman correlation (r2) of 0.816 (P<0.001). Between the test-retest responses, the translated version of the score had a Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.972. A high level of internal consistency was also obtained when each item of the questionnaire was assessed separately, revealing an adequate internal reliability Conclusion The CSS was well adapted and accepted by the Brazilian population, demonstrating the linguistic and psychometric validity of this Portuguese version of the score.

Keywords

• Functional constipation
• questionnaires
• validation study