The Chinese version of ICIQ: a useful tool in clinical practice and research on urinary incontinence

In China, more and more research on the management of urinary incontinence (UI) is being conducted; a robust questionnaire to evaluate the symptoms and impact of UI will be very helpful. Thus, the Chinese version of The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ) was developed.

Initial translation and back translation of the ICIQ-UI short form, the ICIQ-FLUTS, the ICIQ-FLUTS long form, the ICIQ-LUTSqol, and the ICIQ-FLUTSsex were completed by native Chinese and English speaker, respectively. Then, the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the five ICIQ modules, including the content/face validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability were examined.

The back translation of the questionnaires was consistent with the original English questionnaires. The Chinese version of the five ICIQ modules was easily completed, and the missing data were less than 2.5%. The Cornbach's alpha coefficient was 0.71-0.96. In the test-retest, the agreement rate of the two tests exceeded 95% and the kappa values were 0.72-0.93 (P < 0.001).

The Chinese version of the five ICIQ modules was easily understood, and had adequate internal consistency and reliability. It can be used in the study of Chinese-speaking groups around the world.