URDU TRANSLATION AND VALIDATION OF THE HEMO-FISS-QOL QUESTIONNAIRE IN A PAKISTANI POPULATION

Abstract

Background: Hemorrhoidal disease and anal fissure are typical benign anorectal complications that severely affect the quality of life (QoL) of patients. Generic QoL scales tend to miss disease burden. The HEMO-FISS-QoL questionnaire was designed to evaluate the consequences of hemorrhoids and anal fissures on the quality of life; a validated Urdu version of the questionnaire did not exist before.

Objective: The research paper set out to provide a translation of the HEMO-FISS-QoL questionnaire into Urdu and accomplish cross language validation and initial psychometric characteristics of the questionnaire in a Pakistani population.

Method: The translation of the HEMO-FISS-QoL was done in accordance with the usual forward backward translation principles such as the reconciliation, expert review and pilot test. Ten bilingual participants with a diagnosed hemorrhoid or anal fissure were selected on a purposive basis into the cross-language validation. The respondents were made to do both English and Urdu versions after a period of one week. Paired-sample t-tests, Pearson product-moment correlations and reliability analyses were conducted.

Results: Urdu version showed good internal consistency ( α =.91) just like the original English version ( α =.94). There was a close positive relation between the total score of English and Urdu (r = .95, p <.01). There was no significant difference in versions (t(9) =.95, p >.05), which means that the cross-language equivalence is strong.

Conclusion: Urdu version of the HEMO-FISS-QoL is a valid and reliable tool in evaluating disease specific quality of life in Pakistani hemorrhoid and anal fissure patients. It can be applied successfully in clinical practice and research practice, even though additional extensive validation is advisable.