The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Overactive Bladder Symptoms Quality of Life Module – ICIQ-OABqol evaluates the life’s quality of individuals with Overactive Bladder (OAB) and its use is recommended by the International Continence Society in scientific studies and clinical practice (1). The Overactive Bladder (OAB) is a syndrome characterized by urinary symptoms of urgency, frequency and nocturia, associated or not with urinary incontinence which impacts the quality of life of the individual with this health condition (1). This is the first instrument adapted and validated for Brazilian Portuguese language. The objective of this study is to adapt ICIQ-OABqol for Portuguese language.

The process of cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the ICIQ-OABqol questionnaire followed the methodology described by Beaton et al.(2) and the international standards for validation of the ICIQ family questionnaires, recommended by International Continence Society (ICS). The translation stage was previously performed by the Mapi Research Institute. After receiving the translated questionnaire, the process of cross-cultural adaptation was carried out following the steps: review by a committee of experts (13 experts); Pre-test (n = 30) (2), validation with intra-examiner reliability study (n = 118) and internal consistency measures (α-Cronbach Coefficient), test-retest agreement (ICC) and correlation between the ICIQ-OAB and ICIQ-OABqol questionnaires using the Pearson Correlation Test and scatter plot. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to confirm the dimensions (subscales) of the instrument (3). One hundred and twenty-one individuals of both genders were consulted and three were excluded from the study. The individuals in this study signed the Consent Form and answered the ICIQ-OAB and ICIQ-OABqol questionnaires in two applications with an interval of approximately 15 days. The study proposal was approved by Ethics Committee.

At the adaptation phase, the instrument was evaluated through suggestions by the Expert Committee and through the application of the questionnaire to the target population during the pre-test, with the comparison between the suggestions of both, being the final version instrument. The reliability of the study was evaluated by means of the αCronbach coefficient with a result of 0.9; the test-retest had an ICC of 0.9 and reliability interval (IC) of 0.95; comparing the ICIQ-OAB and ICIQ-OABqol scores by means of Pearson's Correlation Coefficient, found 0.6 and 0.7 respectively. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis presented a result of 0.7 to 0.9.

In the stage of cross-cultural adaptation, in possession of the instrument translated and forwarded by the representative of the ICIQ platform, the Committee of Experts made suggestions in order to adapt the instrument. And, throughout the process of adaptation of the instrument for Portuguese language the questionnaire in the pre-test also received changes to better understand the Brazilian population. In this context, the semantic, idiomatic, experiential and conceptual equivalences were verified. Then, the questionnaire was presented its final version, and, from this milestone, the validation and the psychometric analysis of the instrument began (2).

The internal consistency measure of the instrument was through the αCronbach Coefficient, that presented an excellent measure of internal consistency.  The test-retest presented stability, since the first and second application associated with the confidence interval. The ICIQ-OAB and ICIQ-OABqol scores test-retest, when compared by Pearson's Correlation Coefficient, presented satisfactory measurements. The instrument presented measures of favorable factorial load in all dimensions of the ICIQ-OABqol questionnaire, showing that the instrument confirms the construct that should be measured by it. To the measures of reliability, internal consistency and correlation the instrument showed satisfactory measures (3).

The ICIQ-OABqol was culturally adapted and validated for Portuguese language with satisfactory psychometric properties to evaluate the life’s quality of individuals with overactive bladder of both sexes and should be recommended during clinical practice or scientific investigation of urinary symptoms.

Abrams P, Cardozo L, Fall M, Griffiths D, Rosier P.  The standartdization of terminology of lower urinary tract function report from the standardisation sub-committe of the internacional continence society. Neurourol.Urodyn. 2002; 21(2):167-178.
Beaton DT, Bombardier C, Guillemin F, Ferraz MB. Guidelines for the process of Cross Cultural adaptation of Self Report mesures. Spine. 2000; 25 (24):  3186–3191.
Coyne K, Revicki D, Hunt T, Corey R,  Stewart W, Bentkover J. Psychometric validation of an overactive bladder symptom and health-related quality of life questionnaire: The OAB-q. Qual. Life Res. 2002; 11(6): 563–574.