JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH · Jul 3, 2026
Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Menopausal Symptom Bothersomeness Questionnaire: A Cross-sectional Study
By Rangey PB, Shah N
Introduction: Menopausal females experience a diversity of symptoms related to various organ systems, which significantly affect their daily function and Quality of Life (QoL). Bothersomeness depends on each individual’s tolerance level; hence, bothersomeness due to menopausal symptoms is subjective and varies with each woman. Aim: To develop a valid and reliable questionnaire to assess the bothersomeness of menopausal symptoms. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among menopausal women from multiple states of India (New Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka), India from May 2023 to April 2025. A mixed-methods approach was used to determine the content domain and generate items, and a preliminary questionnaire of 46 items was created. A nine-member expert panel was formed to review and validate the content. Factor analysis was performed to reduce items. Reliability and construct validity were assessed. Content validity was determined using Content Validity Index (CVI), Content Validity Ratio (CVR) and Kappa values. Results: Among a total of 106 menopausal women, 52 females were peri-menopausal, and 54 were post-menopausal. Mean age of the sample was 51.13±5.067 years. Mean ages of perimenopausal and post-menopausal women were 47.83±2.185 years and 54.31±5.024 years, respectively. The questionnaire’s validity was assessed using multiple methods. Content validity indices (I‑CVI: 0.67-1.00; S‑CVI/Ave: 0.95) guided item selection, resulting in a draft of 33 questions. Exploratory factor analysis conducted with 106 participants identified a nine-factor structure comprising 33 questions. Internal consistency was acceptable to excellent (Cronbach’s α range: 0.635-0.921). Test-retest reliability was moderate to excellent, with Spearman’s rho and ICC values exceeding 0.5 in a subsample of 22 participants. Construct validity was established through comparison with the Greene Climacteric Scale and the Menopausal QoL questionnaire in a different sample of 107 participants. Item 24 was removed due to insufficient loading, leading to 32 items in the final questionnaire. Conclusion: The Menopausal Symptom Bothersomeness Questionnaire (MSBQ), containing 32 items divided into nine domains, was developed to assess the bothersomeness due to menopausal symptoms in menopausal females. The questionnaire has acceptable internal consistency and moderate to excellent test-retest reliability and has established construct and content validity. It is a valid and reliable comprehensive Patient-Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) that can be used in the community setting.