A new urinary catheter-related quality of life instrument for adults.
OBJECTIVE
To develop and assess the measurement properties of a catheter-related quality of life (C-IQoL) instrument designed to support research with persons using long-term urinary catheter users who use indwelling urethral or suprapubic catheters permanently.


METHODS
Testing was conducted in two small studies for psychometric qualities of reliability (internal consistency and test-retest) and factor analysis. The initial instrument, which was modified after each study, was based on an International Continence Society (ICS) validated generic incontinence quality of life tool. ICS guidelines were used to develop content, including using descriptive and qualitative literature as well as and subjective/objective measures. Literature included content areas related to sexuality, embarrassment, and everyday catheter management.


RESULTS
A three-factor solution of subscales (management, interpersonal, and psychosocial) was created. The final instrument contains 22 items. Reliabilities were all satisfactory.


CONCLUSIONS
Quality of life continence instruments need to be device-specific to address appropriate and critical issues in randomized trials. For further development of a valid and reliable measure, continued collaboration is needed among researchers working with this population.
Wilde
Mary H
MH
University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA. mary_wilde@urmc.rochester.edu
Getliffe
Kathryn
K
Brasch
Judith
J
McMahon
James
J
Anson
Elizabeth
E
Tu
Xin
X
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult