Translation, validation, and first application of the Greek version of an irritable bowel syndrome severity scoring system

Nikolaos Dimzas; Konstantinos Argyriou; Maria Zachou; Arezina Kasti; Konstantinos Petsis; Sophia Lambrinou; Aikaterini Tsolaki; Petros S. Potamianos; Andreas Kapsoritakis

Authors Nikolaos Dimzas, Konstantinos Argyriou, Maria Zachou, Arezina Kasti, Konstantinos Petsis, Sophia Lambrinou, Aikaterini Tsolaki, Petros S. Potamianos, Andreas Kapsoritakis.

Abstract

Background The Irritable Bowel Syndrome Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS) is a selfadministered questionnaire that categorizes patients according to symptom severity. We aimed totranslate and adapt the English IBS-SSS, validate the Greek version, and detect factors predictive of IBS severity.

Methods The original English version was obtained from the Rome Foundation, and the final Greek version arose through a process of translation, comprehensibility evaluation and backtranslation. The 141 participants enlisted in the study were enrolled from 2 tertiary hospitals and were divided into 2 groups (98 patients and 43 healthy volunteers). We evaluated the questionnaire properties based on COSMIN criteria.

Results The recruited patients reported either diarrhea-predominant (34.7%), constipationpredominant (28.6%), or mixed subtype (36.7%) IBS. No significant variations were found regarding the frequency and intensity of abdominal pain and flatulence among the 3 IBS subtypes. Severity scores among healthy volunteers were significantly lower compared to IBS patients, irrespective of their disease subtype (P<0.001). The Cronbach coefficient (α) was calculated at 0.953, suggesting high inter-item internal consistency. The intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated and found to be high, suggesting good responsiveness of the questionnaire. Two-way MANOVA evaluation showed that demographic variables (age, family status, body mass index [BMI], smoking, and alcohol consumption) in the Greek population affect the IBS-SSS score and syndrome severity.

Conclusions The Greek version of IBS-SSS is a reliable, valid and responsive tool for assessing Greek IBS patients’ symptom severity. Older age, smoking, alcohol use and higher BMI are indicative of greater symptom severity.

Keywords Irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome severity scoring system, severity, questionnaire, patient-reported outcomes

Ann Gastroenterol 2024; 37 (2): 182-190