The Menopause Visual Analogue Scale: a new tool for measuring the severity and response to treatment of symptoms throughout the menopausal transition

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the Menopause Visual Analogue Scale (MVAS) in measuring symptoms throughout the menopausal transition. METHODS: Two independent samples of women undergoing the menopausal transition completed both the MVAS and the Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS) at a women's mental health clinic between 2008 and 2016. Data for the first sample were obtained using a retrospective chart review of patients seen between 2008 and 2012 (N₁ = 75) and data for the second sample came from a prospective study conducted between 2013 and 2016 (N₂ = 86). Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's α and Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to evaluate concurrent validity. Bland-Altman plots were developed to assess the degree of agreement between the scales. RESULTS: Internal consistency for the physical and psychological domains of the MVAS was 0.80-0.81 and 0.92-0.94, respectively. Pearson's correlations between the MVAS and the GCS were high for both physical (r_phys = 0.74-0.76, p < 0.01) and psychological (r_psych = 0.70-0.72, p < 0.01) components in both samples. Changes in MVAS physical and psychological scores in response to treatment were correlated with changes in GCS physical and psychological scores (r_phys = 0.69, p < 0.01; r_psych = 0.49, p < 0.01) in the second sample. Bland-Altman plots indicate low to moderate levels of agreement between most portions of the MVAS and the GCS. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the MVAS has potential for assessing both severity and change in symptoms throughout the menopausal transition, subject to exploring limitations identified in the analysis and application to other populations.