The psychometric validation of a 1-week recall period for the OAB-q

As shorter recall periods are sometimes preferable to longer recall periods, the objective of this study was to evaluate the psychometric characteristics and measurement properties of the 1-week recall version of the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-q).

Secondary analyses were performed on data for three 12-week clinical trials of fesoterodine. Patients completed the Patient Perception of Bladder Condition (PPBC), the Patient Perception of Urgency Scale (PPUS), and 3-day bladder diaries in addition to the OAB-q at baseline, 4 and 12 weeks. Analyses were conducted to evaluate the reliability, concurrent and discriminant validity and responsiveness of the OAB-q 1-week recall version.

The patients in the three studies (Study 1: N=516, Study 2: N=441; Study 3: N=882) had a mean age of 59.6, 59.4, and 59.9 years, respectively; and most of the patients were female (77.1%, 88.9%, and 82.9%) and White (76.6%, 90.0%, and 88.0%). Patients had been diagnosed with OAB for a mean of 5.2, 8.3, and 9.1 years, respectively. Cronbach's alpha values were greater than 0.85 across all samples and subscales. Correlations between the 1-week recall version of the OAB-q and the PPBC, PPUS, and most of the bladder diary variables were moderate to strong. Discriminant validity of the OAB-q was good, with significant differences in mean OAB-q scores across all response categories of the PPUS. The OAB-q was highly responsive to changes in patients' conditions as indicated by moderate to large effect sizes. The OAB-q 1-week recall version has a similar factor structure to the 4-week recall version with each subscale model demonstrating acceptable fit.

The 1-week recall version of the OAB-q appears to be reliable, valid, and responsive and is psychometrically equivalent to the 4-week recall version. The validation of the 1-week recall version offers researchers and clinicians an additional option for using the OAB-q.