Clinicians and researchers use a variety of questionnaires to evaluate the severity of patients’ symptoms and assess their progress. Some are also used to help screen patients for possible IC, although none is appropriate for diagnosis.
The GRA measures overall improvement with therapy. It is now used as the primary end point in clinical trials of therapies for IC. The assessment asks: "As compared to when you started the study [treatment], how would you rate your interstitial cystitis symptoms now?" The seven point scale is centered at zero (no change): markedly worse; moderately worse; slightly worse; no change; slightly improved; moderately improved; and markedly improved.
The O’Leary-Sant questionnaire assesses severity of symptoms and the how much of a problem the symptoms cause for the patient.
Similar to the O’Leary-Sant Symptom and Problem Indexes, the PUF questionnaire evaluates symptoms of pain, urgency, and frequency and how much they bother the patient. Some have used this questionnaire as a screening tool.
The NIH-CPSI is questionnaire is used for evaluation of men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. It assesses pain and urinary symptoms, their impact, and effect on quality of life.
Revised: July 7, 2008
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