Introduction: Ureteral stents are frequently used in urology practice and have a significant impact on health-related quality of life (QoL). In 2003 . Joshi et al. developed the specific questionnaire for evaluation of QoL and stent-related symptoms, namely Ureteral Stent Symptoms Questionnaire (USSQ). USSQ consists of 40 questions and 2 visual analog scales (VAS), divided into 6 domains. Over the past decade, this questionnaire has been translated into 9 languages. A Russian version of the questionnaire has not been developed yet.
Aim: To perform linguistic validation of the Russian version of the USSQ.
Material and methods: Linguistic validation of the original USSQ was performed through a standard process including translation, back translation and pilot study. A total of 103 patients undergone ureteral stent placement and successfully filled in the Russian USSQ at weeks 1 and 4 after stenting, and at week 4 after stent removal. In addition, 30 healthy people filled in the same questionnaires twice at 3-week intervals, as a control group. To evaluate reliability, validity and sensitivity to change of the Russian USSQ, statistical analysis was performed. External criteria included validated questionnaires (EQ-5D, IPSS and pain VAS).
Results: Content validity was approved by experts and proved during patients interviewing. Reliability test-retest was satisfactory for urinary symptoms, body pain, general health, and work performance domains (p<0,001 between test and retest evaluation). USSQ domains showed good correlations between each other (correlation coefficient was 0,80-0,94). Cronbach's alpha coefficient of internal reliability was 0.73-0.95. Correlation between other instruments and corresponding USSQ domains was good (p<0,001), proving criterial validity. Sensitivity to changes after stenting and stent removal was also good for most domains (p less or equal 0,001).
Conclusion: Russian version of USSQ is a valid, reliable and sensitive instrument for the assessment of QoL and stent-related symptoms and is ready for application in the routine clinical practice.
Keywords: USSQ; quality of life; ureteral stents.