Reliability and Validity of the Quality of Life Questionnaire in Iranian Patients with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Iranian version of the Quality of Life (QoL) questionnaire in patients with urinary incontinence (UI). MethodsThe English questionnaire on lower urinary tract symptoms was initially translated into Persian, and then back-translated into English. Final modifications were made after testing the questionnaire on Iranian patients with UI. To validate the translated questionnaire, the following tests were undertaken: content/face validity, internal consistency/reliability and construct validity. ResultsThe Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Quality of Life (LUTS-QoL) questionnaire showed good internal consistency, content validity, and criterion validity, as measured by correlation with scores on the Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36). Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.951, indicating a high internal consistency. Concerning criterion validity, correlations between the LUTS-QoL and subscales of the SF-36 were 0.563-0.193. The highest correlation was found between the LUTS-QoL and the social function subscale of the SF-36. ConclusionThe Iranian version of the LUTS-QoL questionnaire is a valid and robust instrument that can be used reliably in clinical settings and in research.