Description

The Incontinence Impact Questionnaire – Short Form (IIQ-SF) is a shortened version of the original Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ). It was developed to provide a quick and practical method for assessing the impact of urinary incontinence on individuals’ quality of life, with fewer questions than the full version.

Analysis

The IIQ-SF includes 9 questions covering three main domains:

Social Life:
Examines the impact of incontinence on participation in social activities and relationships with others.
Physical Activity:
Assesses how incontinence affects the individual’s ability to engage in physical activities and maintain physical well-being.
Emotional Well-being:
Measures the psychological effects of incontinence, such as distress, embarrassment, and frustration.

The short form uses a Likert scale, typically scoring from 0 (not at all) to 3 (a lot).

Purpose

The purpose of the IIQ-SF is:

Quick Assessment:
To provide a brief and effective method for evaluating the impact of incontinence on quality of life, suitable for both clinical practice and research.
Diagnosis and Monitoring:
To assist in diagnosing the severity of incontinence and monitoring treatment effectiveness.
Intervention Evaluation:
To offer insight into progress during therapy and the effectiveness of interventions.

Scoring

Scoring for the IIQ-SF includes:
Total Score:
Calculated by summing the responses, where higher scores indicate a greater impact of incontinence on quality of life.
Subscale Analysis:
Scores can be analyzed by category (social life, physical activity, emotional well-being) to better understand specific effects.

References

Abrams, P., Cardozo, L., Fall, M., Griffiths, D., Rosier, P., & Ulmsten, U. (2006). The Standardization of Terminology in Lower Urinary Tract Function: Report from the Standardisation Sub-Committee of the International Continence Society. Neurourology and Urodynamics, 25(2), 188–197.
Kelleher, C. J., & Dowson, C. (1999). The Use of the Short Form of the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire in Clinical Practice. British Journal of Urology, 83(3), 210–215.
Hunskaar, S., & Hatloy, M. (2003). Incontinence Impact Questionnaire – Short Form: A Validation Study. Scandinavian Journal of Urology and Nephrology, 37(4), 267–272.