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Sociodemographic Factors Influencing AUASI
Tia Schellato, Phillip C. Ginsberg, Michael J. Metro, Richard C. Harkaway
Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA
Intoduction: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the relationship between sociodemographic variables and the American Urologic Association Symptom Score (AUA-7). In a previous study, the AUA symptom index was determined to be at a 6th grade reading level. We revised the index to accommodate a reading level below that of the 6th grade. Individual questions as well as overall scores were compared to determine comprehension of the questions in an urban population.
Methods: Age, race, and education were recorded for 60 consecutive men with LUTS. The men were 77% African American, 16% Caucasian, and 8% other races, and represented a variety of educational levels. Subjects answered questionnaires containing the original AUA-7 questions together with 7 revised questions in random order. Subjects were then interviewed to determine whether they answered the questions accurately, and after further explanation of each question a new score was recorded.
Results: The difference between the subjects’ initial questionnaire answers and there intended answers was compared. Questions 2, 3, and 5 of the AUA-7 were answered significantly differently compared to the revised questions (p=0.05, p=0.04, and p=0.01 respectively).
Conclusions: This study shows that the AUA symptom score is a questionnaire that is primarily influenced by reading comprehension, and that the specific wording of each question affects the outcome. Patients’ educational level and reading level should be taken into account when interpreting the scores.
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