Cross-cultural adaptation of the Pelvic Floor Dysfunction SENTINEL screening tool for German-speaking female athletes

Abstract

Introduction: Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD), such as urinary or fecal incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse, is a common medical condition with increasing awareness in female athletes since they suffer more frequently from PFD than non-athletes. For female athletes PFD can be very disabling and stressful and may even lead to withdrawal from sport. Recently, a screening tool for PFD in female athletes was introduced (PFD-SENTINEL screening tool). In this study, we aimed to translate and culturally adapt the PFD-SENTINEL screening tool into German. Methods: Following an international guideline, forward and backtranslations of the screening tool were conducted throughout six progressive phases. A pre-final version of the PFD-SENTINEL screening tool for the German language was tested in a cohort of 27 potential users. Subsequently, a final version was adjusted and presented. Results: Twenty-two of the 27 potential users were female athletes (median age 24 years). Five of the potential users were healthcare professionals (median age 28 years). None of the participants had difficulties understanding the questionnaire, either linguistically or in terms of content. The final version was approved by the original developers. Conclusions: The PFD-SENTINEL screening tool holds promise to prompt specialist care and assessment, detecting potential PFD and helping to estimate the related prevalence in female athletes. Its successful translation and adaptation to the German language allows for future testing of its psychometric properties and application in German-speaking regions.