title: Accuracy of recall in quality-of-life assessment among women operated on for stress urinary incontinence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to assess the validity and reliability of a retrospective quality-of-life (QOL) assessment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-30) and the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) were self-administered pre-operatively. At 3 months post-op, the IIQ-30 and SF-12 surveys were mailed to patients to reassess their pre-operative QOL status. Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were used to test the validity and reliability of the recalled IIQ and SF-12 scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recall validity was excellent for the IIQ-30 (r = 0.64) and moderate for the SF-12 (r = 0.46 (physical component summary or PCS) and 0.42 (mental component summary or MCS)). Recall reliability was moderate with the IIQ-30 (ICC = 0.62) and poor with the SF-12 (ICC = 0.44 (PCS) and 0.49 (MCS)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The IIQ-30 can be reliably used in a retrospective manner among women who have undergone surgery for SUI 3 months earlier.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hôpital Sainte-Justine, QC, Canada. nickilarochelle@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Annick
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Larochelle
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Podoba
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ouellet
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Fraser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D011788:Quality of Life; D053825:Suburethral Slings; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery