The Development and Validation of a Questionnaire That Assesses Female Athletes’ and Coaches’ Knowledge of the Menstrual Cycle

Abstract

In this study, a menstrual cycle knowledge questionnaire (MCKQ) for female athletes and coaches was developed and validated. Items for an initial questionnaire (Pre-MCKQ) were generated from existing questionnaires and supplemented by three experienced gynaecologists. The 21-item Pre-MCKQ was piloted on a sample of 325 recreational female athletes, 27 female coaches and 19 male coaches. Each item's difficulty and item–total correlation scores were assessed, and the final MCKQ was reduced to 12 items. Eighteen experts rated the 12-item MCKQ for relevance (M = 5.4 and SD = 0.8) and clarity (M = 5.4, SD = 1.0) using a 6-point Likert scale. The 12-item MCKQ was then completed by 562 elite female athletes and 170 coaches (55 female, 114 male and 1 other). Test–retest reliability was assessed with a separate cohort of sport science students (n = 64). The mean difficulty index was 57%, and the mean item–total correlation was r = 0.36. Cronbach's alpha of 0.73 indicates that the questionnaire is reliable and test–retest reliability was strong. Knowledge test scores differed significantly among female athletes, female coaches and male coaches (F (2,728) = 8.59, p < 0.01 and ηp² = 0.02, respectively), demonstrating construct validity. Additionally, participants who rated their knowledge of the menstrual cycle as higher scored significantly better than those with lower self-ratings (F (5,726) = 38.45, p < 0.01, ηp² = 0.21). In conclusion, the 12-item MCKQ appears to be a valid and reliable tool to assess the menstrual cycle knowledge of female athletes and coaches.