Validation of the Japanese Version of Obstetric Quality of Recovery-11 Questionnaire and Its Association with Postpartum Depression and Functional Outcomes: A Prospective Observational Study

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The aim was to develop a Japanese version of the Obstetric Quality of Recovery-11 questionnaire (ObsQoR-11J), assess its feasibility, reliability, and validity, and investigate its association with postpartum depression and functionality. The need for this study is underscored by the limited availability of the ObsQoR-11 in different languages and the lack of documentation on its associations with early postpartum recovery and mid-term postpartum patient-reported outcomes. Methods: After translating the ObsQoR-11J into Japanese, 138 patients who underwent non-emergent cesarean delivery were enrolled in this study. ObsQoR-11J scores were evaluated at 24 h, 3 days, and 5 days post-surgery. The associations between ObsQoR-11J scores and postpartum depression and functionality, which were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 1 and 3 months and the 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0, respectively, at three months after cesarean delivery, were evaluated. Results: The questionnaire completion rate at 24 h was 97.1% (134/138), and the mean ObsQoR-11 scores at 24 h and 3 and 5 days post-surgery were 67.2, 89.0, and 96.3, respectively. Cronbach's alpha was 0.77, and the Spearman correlation coefficient between ObsQoR-11J scores and global health visual analog scale scores was 0.43 (p = 0.03) at 24 h. The ObsQoR-11 score at any measurement point was significantly associated with the EPDS and 12-item WHODAS2.0 after adjusting for clinically relevant factors (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: The ObsQoR-11J is a valid assessment tool, and its scores are associated with patient-reported outcome measures.

Keywords: cesarean delivery; patient safety; patient-reported outcome measures; perioperative medicine.

Figure 1

Patient flowchart.