Translation and Validation of the Persian Version of the Wisconsin Quality of Life Questionnaire (Persian WISQOL) for Kidney Stone Patients

Background: Kidney stone diseases are among the important diseases of the urinary system that can affect the quality of life of patients. Assessing and measuring this impact with relevant and standardized tools is necessary to provide care. This study aimed to translate the Wisconsin Quality of Life (WISQOL) questionnaire into Persian and assess its validity and reliability. Methods: The Persian version of the WISQOL questionnaire was developed through a multi-phase process. Persian WISQOL questionnaire and also the validated Persian version of the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) were completed by patients. Then, the internal consistency of the questionnaire was evaluated, the interdomain correlation of the Persian WISQOL was done, and its convergent validity with the SF-36 was compared. Results: A total of 187 patients with kidney stones completed the Persian WISQOL and SF-36. The overall internal consistency of the Persian WISQOL was high (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.972), and this was consistent across all domains (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.898 to 0.958). The interdomain correlation was also high among most domains (r=0.585 to 0.90). The convergent validity of the Persian WISQOL was confirmed by a good overall correlation with the SF-36 (r=0.782). Conclusion: The Persian WISQOL is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating the quality of life in patients with kidney stones.