Reliability and Validity of Constipation Severity Scale

Abstract

Objective: This methodological study was conducted in two stages with the aim of providing Turkish equivalence and determining reliability and validity of Constipation Severity Scale (CSS).Material and Methods: Linguistic equivalence of CSS was verified with translation-backward translation method, content validity with expert opinion; reliability by testing stability and internal consistency; validity using divergent- incoherent and consistent validity methods. Gastrointestinal Symptom Grading Scale (GSGS) and Constipation Quality of Life Scale (CQLS) were used for consistent validity and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Marlow-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSDS) were used for divergent-incoherent validity. Also the relationship between CSS and general quality of life (SF-36) was analyzed. Sample of the first research was composed of students from a School of Nursing and sample of the second research was composed of the patients hospitalized in orthopedics clinic.Results: Test-retest correlation coefficients of CSS were found to be 0.20-0.84; item-total score correlations were found to be 0.40-0.82 and Cronbach alpha coefficient was found to be between 0.92 and 0.93. While a statistically significant correlation was found between CSS and CQLS, GSGS scores, a statistically significant correlation coefficient could not be reached between CSS and ESS, MCSDS scores. A statistically significant inverse relationship was detected between CSS scores and general quality of life (SF-36).Conclusion: Obtained results indicated that Turkish version of CSS is a reliable and valid scale for determination of constipation problem and assessment of the severity.