Translation, reliability, and validity of the Dutch version of the ICIQ-PadPROM questionnaire

Introduction Urinary incontinence (UI) significantly impacts health and quality of life. The ICIQ-PadPROM questionnaire, developed to assess the treatment effects of absorbent incontinence products, lacked a Dutch version. This study aimed to translate the ICIQ-PadPROM into Dutch and evaluate its psychometric properties. Methods The translation process involved forward translation, expert discussions, pilot testing, and backward translation. The Dutch version was tested in two studies: the INCOntince Materials (INCOM) study and a survey on incontinence material suppliers. Content validity, internal consistency, stability, and cross-cultural validation were assessed using statistical analyses, including Cronbach's alpha, weighted kappa, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results The Dutch ICIQ-PadPROM demonstrated good content validity, with missing data below 7% for most items. Internal consistency was acceptable for most domains but lower for the ‘Leakage and burden of pad use’ domain. Stability was substantial for most items (weighted kappa > 0.60). CFA indicated a four-factor structure, though some items had factor loadings below 0.4. Conclusion The Dutch ICIQ-PadPROM showed robust psychometric properties, making it suitable for clinical and research use. Issues with certain items, such as those related to intimacy and work activities, were noted. The study supports the Dutch ICIQ-PadPROM as a valid tool for evaluating the impact of absorbent pads on quality of life. Further studies should explore its responsiveness in interventional settings.