Inter-observer reliability of three different methods of measuring urethrovesical mobility

The aim of this study was to assess the inter-observer reliability of three different methods to evaluate urethral mobility in women: Q-tip test, ultrasonographic measurement and Sensor-Q™ test. From November 2006, consecutive women referred to our urogynecology units were submitted to one of the three procedures performed by two different urogynecologists, one blinded to the measurement obtained by the other. Sensor-Q™ test was performed using the specific equipment able to electronically assess urethral mobility. Data were analyzed using Pearson product moment correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman method comparison. Ninety patients were assessed. The Q-tip test, the Sensor-Q™ test and the ultrasonographic measurement were performed on 30 patients for each procedure. The correlation coefficient of the Q-tip test, the Sensor-Q™ test and the ultrasonographic measurement was 0.83, 0.92 and 0.43, respectively. The Sensor-Q™ and Q-tip test showed a higher inter-observer reliability for the evaluation of urethral mobility if compared to ultrasounds.