Childhood Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction Questionnaire 5-12 years

Abstract

The Childhood Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction Questionnaire 5-12 jaar (CBBDQ 5-12j) is an 18-item, user-friendly, parent-report questionnaire designed to systematically map and evaluate the symptoms associated with micturition and defecation problems in children aged 5 to 12 years. Developed in the Netherlands by a multidisciplinary team including pelvic physiotherapists, pediatricians, and pediatric physical therapists, the CBBDQ 5-12j was validated using a substantial sample of 1333 children, encompassing both symptomatic and non-symptomatic individuals.

This instrument is specifically designed to be completed independently by parents, thereby providing health professionals and scientific researchers with a standardized and objective method for assessing pediatric urogenital and gastrointestinal symptoms related to functional dysfunction.

Keywords

Childhood Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction, Micturition, Defecation, Pediatric Urogenital Disorders, Parent-report questionnaire, Functional Constipation, Enuresis, Encopresis, van Engelenburg-van Lonkhuyzen.

Authors

van Engelenburg-van Lonkhuyzen ML (2017)

Purpose

The primary purpose of the CBBDQ 5-12j is to provide a standardized, easy-to-use tool for the systematic assessment and evaluation of functional bladder and bowel dysfunction (BBD) symptoms in school-aged children. By focusing on observable symptoms reported by parents, the questionnaire standardizes the intake process, which often relies on subjective clinical interviews.

The instrument allows health professionals, particularly pelvic physiotherapists and pediatricians, to obtain objective, quantifiable data regarding the frequency, severity, and nature of symptoms. This data is critical for differential diagnosis, defining treatment targets, monitoring the efficacy of interventions, and facilitating communication between clinical disciplines.

Construct

The CBBDQ 5-12j measures the construct of Childhood Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction (BBD). This is a complex clinical construct encompassing a range of interrelated functional disorders affecting the lower urinary tract and the gastrointestinal system, primarily focusing on volitional control over micturition (urination) and defecation (bowel movements).

The 18 items are designed to capture specific symptomatic behaviors related to key indicators of BBD, such as urinary frequency or urgency, daytime or nighttime wetting (enuresis), stool retention, painful bowel movements, and signs of functional constipation. The scale aims to identify the presence and severity of these indicators within the specified age range of 5 to 12 years.

Validity

While specific statistical validity coefficients are not detailed in the summary, the development methodology strongly supports high levels of Content Validity. The scale was developed through collaboration among multidisciplinary experts, including pediatricians and pelvic physiotherapists, ensuring that the 18 items comprehensively cover the clinically relevant spectrum of BBD symptoms.

The instrument’s use in evaluating symptoms across both symptomatic and non-symptomatic populations (N=1333) suggests a focus on Clinical Validity, indicating its ability to differentiate between children experiencing functional dysfunction and those who are typically developing. Further validation studies are necessary to confirm specific measures of construct and criterion validity.

Reliability

Specific reliability data, such as internal consistency (e.g., Cronbach’s alpha) or test-retest reliability, are crucial for academic scale documentation but are not provided in the source content. Given its clinical utility, the CBBDQ 5-12j is expected to demonstrate robust internal consistency, ensuring that all 18 items coherently measure the singular or sub-domains of BBD.

Confirmation of Test-Retest Reliability is essential for its application in longitudinal studies and treatment monitoring, guaranteeing that the scores remain stable over short periods when the child’s clinical status is unchanged. Researchers should consult the primary validation studies for detailed psychometric properties.

Factor Analysis

The specific factor structure derived from the CBBDQ 5-12j’s validation process is not explicitly defined in the summary. However, given that the scale addresses both bladder and bowel functions, it is highly likely that factor analysis, such as Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), was employed.

The expected outcome of such analysis would be the identification of two primary, correlated factors: a Urogenital Dysfunction Factor (related to micturition) and a Gastrointestinal Dysfunction Factor (related to defecation). This structure would enable clinicians to generate separate subscale scores, allowing for targeted treatment strategies for specific BBD components.

Instrument

Test Type: Parent-report questionnaire

Format: 18-item structured questionnaire

Language Available: Dutch (Original development language)

Population Group: Children

Age Group: 5 to 12 years

Population Details: The scale was validated on a large sample of 1333 children, including those with and without micturition and/or defecation complaints. The mean age of the sample was 7.8 years (Standard Deviation 2.1).

Test Methodology: The questionnaire is self-administered by parents.

Keywords

BBD, Pediatric Assessment, Functional Disorders, Bladder dysfunction, Bowel dysfunction, Enuresis, Encopresis, Pediatric Physiotherapy.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A (Information not provided in source documentation)

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A (Information not provided)

Correspondence Address: N/A (Information not provided; generally associated with the developing institution or university in the Netherlands)

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Test Year: 2017

Permissions and Fees: Specific information regarding licensing fees or permissions for commercial or widespread clinical use should be obtained directly from the primary author, van Engelenburg-van Lonkhuyzen ML, or the publishing body. The scale is primarily designed for use by health professionals and scientific researchers in the context of assessing urogenital and digestive health.

The original PDF documents related to this instrument are available for detailed inspection:

• The original Explanation Form (Toelichtingsformulier) can be downloaded here: https://scales.arabpsychology.com/wp-content/uploads/instrumenten/CBBDQ-form.pdf
• The original Measurement Instrument (Meetinstrument) can be downloaded here: https://scales.arabpsychology.com/wp-content/uploads/instrumenten/CBBDQ-meetinstr.pdf

Reference’s

• van Engelenburg-van Lonkhuyzen ML (2017). Childhood Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction Questionnaire 5-12 jaar (CBBDQ 5-12j). Unpublished instrument documentation, Netherlands.
• Additional supporting research related to the scale’s development and validation (Specific citations pending access to full academic publication).

Items of the Childhood Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction Questionnaire 5-12 jaar

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

The 18 specific items comprising the CBBDQ 5-12j are available within the official Measurement Instrument PDF linked above. These items cover various aspects of urogenital and digestive health, including daytime wetting, nighttime wetting (enuresis), frequency of urination, stool consistency, frequency of defecation, and painful bowel movements, used to assess the presence and severity of BBD symptoms.