Aims:

The aim of this study was to determine the psychometric properties of the German version of the Pediatric Enuresis Module to assess Quality of Life, Short Form (PEMQOL-SF) in a sample of parents of children with urinary incontinence. Methods:

The parents of 88 children (63 male, 25 female, mean age: 9.3 [SD ± 2.5, range 6-18] years) with urinary incontinence were asked to complete the PEMQOL-SF. For evaluation of convergence validity, parents and children completed the respective versions of the DCGM-10 and the PinQ questionnaire.

Results:

Mean PEMQOL-SF scores were 72.2 [SD ± 14.1] (child impact scale) and 73.7 [SD ± 16.5] (family impact scale). The PEMQOL-SF had a Cronbach's alpha of 0.68 (child impact scale) and 0.80 (family impact scale), respectively. PEMQOL-SF child [family] impact scale scores correlated with the DCGM-10 with scores of r = 0.34 (r = 0.13; self-report version) and r = 0.63 (r = 0.48; proxy version) and with the PinQ with scores of r = -0.31 (r = -0.16; self-report version) and r = -0.63 (r = -0.54; proxy version), respectively. Conclusions The psychometric properties of the PEMQOL-SF were good for the family impact scale, but poor for the child impact scale. In its present form, the PEMQOL-SF cannot be recommended for routine clinical use. Nevertheless, a reduction of questionnaire items could lead to better psychometric properties.