The International Prostate Symptom Score: Discrepancies between Self-administration and Physician-administration / 대한비뇨기과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) is the most commonly used scoring system to quantify the lower urinary tract symptoms of benign prostate hyperplasia. The objective of this study was to measure any discrepancies in the Korean version of the IPSS when it is administered by the patients themselves as opposed to when it was administered by the physician. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy two patients were asked to fill out two IPSS questionnaires during their first visit; one was self-administered and the other was administered by a physician in an interview. The total IPSS, quality of life and the individual questions were compared between the two modes of administration. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found in the mean total IPSS (16.9+/-8.44 versus 15.0+/-7.53, respectively) and the scores on questions 3 (intermittency) and 4 (urgency) between the self and physician administered IPSS (2.40+/-2.03 versus 1.47+/-1.88 and 1.86+/-1.87 versus 1.26+/-1.58, respectively). Thirty one patients (44.3%) demonstrated a difference of more than 3 points on the total IPSS score. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that there may be discrepancies between the self and physician administered IPSS scores. Therefore, physicians should review the score of each question, and especially those on intermittency and urgency.