Spanish Translation, Transcultural Adaptation, Validation and Clinical Applicability of Female Genital-Self Image Scale (FGSIS)

Abstract

Abstract Background As female genital cosmetic surgeries have significantly increased, appropriate tools to evaluate self-esteem about women's own genitalia are necessary. Aim to translate, culturally adapt to Spanish women and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Female Genital Self-Image Scale (FGSIS). Methods FGSIS was forward and backward translated, culturally adapted into Spanish and its content evaluated through Delphi consensus. One item from the original scale was discarded after expert panel evaluation, developing the final Spanish scale (FGSIS-S) consisting of 6 items. Its psychometric properties were evaluated among 202 women attending gynecological consults through an online survey. The survey included socio-demographic data and FGSIS-S. Main Outcome Measure Socio-demographic items, psychometric characteristics of the FGSIS-S (construct evaluation, internal consistency and test-retest reliability) were assessed. Results FGSIS-S proved to relate appropriately with the proposed construct (sum-content validity index 0.9, and significant inverse correlation with women concerned about their genital appearance or considering cosmetic surgery) with a 1-factor solution on exploratory factor analysis. The test proved good internal consistency (McDonald's omega 0.86) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation 0.86, P < .001). In 41.1% of cases, women referred concern about their genital's self-image and in 12.4% had considered undergoing cosmetic surgery. Clinical Translation The validated version of FGSIS-S can help both professionals and patients, and its implementation can be easily made in gynecological consults. Strengths and Limitations The main limitation is a self-selection bias in women attending gynecological consults, who may be more worried about their gynecological/sexual health. The sample is also a relatively homogeneous Caucasian population, with medium-high educational level, coming from gynecological consults. Strengths include the large sample size and the demographic survey that permitted evaluating the performance of FGSIS-S in the context of concern about genitals or consideration of cosmetic surgery. Conclusion FGSIS-S is an adequate scale to measure women's genital image self-perception in Spanish-speaking population of Spain.