Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40085224›Full record

ArticleWorld journal of urology2025

New evidence for content validity of the German version of the Acute Cystitis Symptom Score: cognitive interview study among patients and experts.

Sophie Nestler, Christian Apfelbacher, Ebru Özkan, Kurt Naber, Katharina Piontek

Abstract readValidation Study
In one paragraph

Article in World journal of urology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Sophie NestlerInstitute of Social Medicine and Health Systems Research, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Medical Faculty, Magdeburg, Germany.
Christian ApfelbacherInstitute of Social Medicine and Health Systems Research, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Medical Faculty, Magdeburg, Germany.
Ebru ÖzkanInstitute of Social Medicine and Health Systems Research, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Medical Faculty, Magdeburg, Germany.
Kurt NaberDepartment of Urology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Katharina PiontekInstitute of Social Medicine and Health Systems Research, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Medical Faculty, Magdeburg, Germany. katharina.piontek@med.ovgu.de.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe Acute Cystitis Symptom Score (ACSS) is a clinically validated instrument to assess symptoms and quality of life in women with uncomplicated urinary tract infections (uUTIs). A previous study examining the content validity of the German version of the ACSS has shown some methodological limitations when rated against the criteria for content validity of the COnsensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) initiative. Extending the existing evidence, the present study aimed to assess the content validity of the German version of the ACSS according to the criteria of the COSMIN methodology.

methodsIn individual cognitive interviews following a structured, standardized interview guide, women with a history of uUTI and experts from different medical fields rated the instructions, items, response options and recall period of the ACSS in terms of relevance, comprehensiveness and comprehensibility. Additionally, the Content Validity Index (CVI) was calculated based on expert assessments to quantify content validity.

resultsA total of 14 patients and 14 experts participated in two rounds of interviews. The overall relevance and comprehensiveness of the instrument were rated as appropriate. Modifications focused on improving comprehensibility. Ten items underwent minor modifications or were given examples to enhance comprehensibility. The scales of five items were linguistically revised. Confirming good content validity, CVI was 0.97.

conclusionsComprehensive qualitative assessments support content validity of the ACSS for evaluating symptoms and quality of life in women with uUTIs. Minor modifications addressed comprehensibility. Psychometric validation of the revised ACSS is recommended.

Indexed as

CystitisAcute DiseaseAdultAgedFemaleGermanyHumansInterviews as TopicMiddle AgedQuality of LifeReproducibility of ResultsContent validityCOSMINQualitative interviews

Identifiers

PMID40085224
PMCPMC11909055

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.