Assessing multiple dimensions of urgency sensation: The University of South Australia Urinary Sensation Assessment (USA2)

Aims To develop and assess structure, test–retest reliability, and discriminative validity of a self‐report questionnaire (University of South Australia Urinary Sensation Assessment: USA 2 ) to assess multiple dimensions of urgency sensation. Methods The USA 2 was designed and tested over two prospective, observational studies (2013–2014). Participants were English speaking Australians aged 50 or more with and without overactive bladder (OAB; determined by OAB awareness tool), recruited via health and recreation centers. In Study 1, exploratory factor analysis determined USA 2 structure and subscales. In Study 2, confirmatory factor analysis reassessed structure; Mann–Whitney U ‐tests determined discriminative validity (OAB vs. non‐OAB for subscale and total scores) with Cohen's d effect sizes. Thirty‐three individuals completed the USA 2 twice; intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Wilcoxon signed rank tests assessed test–retest reliability. Results Questionnaires were returned by 189 eligible participants in Study 1 and 211 in Study 2. Exploratory factor analysis revealed three subscales: “urgency,” “affective,” “fullness.” Confirmatory factor analysis supported these subscales. Subscale and total scores were significantly different between groups with and without OAB ( P < 0.001). Cohen's d effect sizes (95%CI) were total score 1.8 (0.5–3.1), “urgency” subscale 1.8 (1.3–2.3), “affective” 1.7 (0.95–2.4), and “fullness” 0.75 (0.42–1.09). Total and subscales scores demonstrated test–retest reliability; ICCs (95%CIs) of 0.95 (0.9–0.98), 0.96 (0.92–0.98), 0.94 (0.88–0.97), and 0.78 (0.56–0.89). Conclusions The USA 2 assesses multiple dimensions of urgency sensation, is reliable over a 2‐week period, and discriminates between older adults with and without OAB. Further validation is required in conditions other than overactive bladder. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:667–672, 2017 . © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.