title: Development and psychometric evaluation of the ICIQ-LTCqol: A self-report quality of life questionnaire for long-term indwelling catheter users.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Long-term indwelling catheterisation may affect health related quality of life, but clinical assessment and monitoring of people with indwelling catheters is poorly recorded because there are no validated measures to capture these criteria. In this paper, we describe the development of the ICIQ-Long Term Catheter quality of life (ICIQ-LTCqol), one of the modules of the ICIQ series, an international project to standardise assessment of lower pelvic dysfunction: www.iciq.net.
  
  
  METHODS
  In-depth interviews were conducted with 27 catheter-users and 4 informal carers and cognitive debriefing with a further 31 catheter-users and clinical experts to evaluate clarity and comprehensiveness. The draft 44 item questionnaire was then sent by post to 893 long-term catheter-users; the 370 completed questionnaires were used to test content validity, test re-test reliability and internal consistency (Cronbach α coefficient). Factor analysis alongside expert opinion was used to formulate the final questionnaire of 16 items. This was then sent by post to another 438 long-term catheter-users to evaluate domain scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The final questionnaire consists of two scored domains: catheter function and concern (9 items) and lifestyle impact (3 items) and four standalone items, relating to pads, pain, sexual activity and bladder spasm. Levels of missing data are good (mean 3.6%) with moderate to good agreement and acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.76 and 0.74 for each domain respectively), suggesting acceptability and stability of the questionnaire.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ICIQ-LTCqol is a psychometrically robust self-report questionnaire for the clinical assessment and evaluation of health related quality of life for long-term catheter users.
authors: Bristol Urological Institute, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors: Nikki
authors: N
authors: Cotterill
authors: Bristol Urological Institute, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Fowler
authors: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
authors: Miriam
authors: M
authors: Avery
authors: Department of Medical Physics & Bioengineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Alan M
authors: AM
authors: Cottenden
authors: School of Nursing, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York.
authors: Mary
authors: M
authors: Wilde
authors: Bristol Urological Institute, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors: Adele
authors: A
authors: Long
authors: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
authors: Mandy J
authors: MJ
authors: Fader
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D004867:Equipment Design; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000523:psychology; D062885:Urinary Catheters; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: catheter; psychometrics; quality of life; questionnaires; urinary incontinence