Inconclusive psychometric properties of the Vaizey score in fecally incontinent patients: a prospective cohort study.

AIM To determine the psychometric properties of the total Vaizey score and its individual items. METHODS The study was conducted as part of a prospective cohort study assessing the outcome of pelvic floor rehabilitation in patients with fecal incontinence. RESULTS One hundred ninety-four patients were analyzed, 53 of whom provided data on the global perceived effect (GPE) score. Pelvic floor rehabilitation resulted in a significant reduction of the total Vaizey score and most individual items. The total Vaizey scores changed in agreement with the GPE scores. The total Vaizey score was responsive, but some individual items yielded inconsistent results for three different measures. The test-retest reliability was adequate or excellent for six individual items and the total Vaizey score. The internal consistency was low for the total Vaizey score at baseline, in contrast to the follow-up and change scores. The estimates for the minimally important change (MIC) and smallest detectable change yielded moderately consistent results. An MIC of -5 points seemed preferable and yielded the lowest misclassification rate. CONCLUSIONS More research is required to confirm conclusions on the psychometric properties of the total Vaizey score and its individual items, and to justify its use in research and routine clinical practice.