[Validation of the Spanish version of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form. A questionnaire for assessing the urinary incontinence]

Abstract

Background and objective: A big proportion (40-70%) of patients with urinary incontinence (UI) do not ask for medical advice. Self-administered questionnaires may help in detecting UI. The objective of the present study was to validate the Spanish version of the questionnaire ICIQ-SF.

Patients and method: 500 women who consulted at a UI-specialized unit responded to the questionnaire. A urodynamic study was carried out and sociodemographic and clinical data were collected. Feasibility, validity and reliability were assessed. Sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp) and positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values of the clinical and urodynamic study were also calculated.

Results: The mean time of administration was 3.5 (1.5) minutes. All patients answered all the items of the ICIQ-SF. According to the clinical diagnosis, patients with UI scored 11.6 (5.9) and patients without UI scored 4.5 (6.3) (p < 0.001). According to the urodynamic diagnosis, UI patients scored 11.1 (6.3) vs 6.2 (6.5) (p < 0.001). In patients with an urodynamic diagnosis of stress UI, a higher severity degree was associated with a higher score on the ICIQ-SF. The values of Se, Sp, PPV and NPV were 92.1%, 55.6%, 88.3% and 65.9%, respectively, regarding clinical diagnosis, and 87.7%, 40.8%, 85.1% and 46.2%, respectively, regarding the urodynamic study.

Conclusions: This is the first questionnaire designed for diagnosing UI validated in Spain. The psychometric properties of the ICIQ-SF are satisfactory and allow to recommend the use of the questionnaire in the clinical practice.