Validation of the Japanese Version of The Wisconsin Stone Quality of Life Questionnaire: Results from SMART Study Group

The Wisconsin Stone Quality of Life questionnaire (WISQOL) is a health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measure designed for patients with urinary stones. It has been translated and used in several languages. This study aimed to validate the Japanese version of the WISQOL (J-WISQOL). The J-WISQOL was translated and validated using a multistep process proposed by the World Health Organization that involved forward translation, back-translation, and pilot testing with a group of patients. This study enrolled 150 patients with urinary stones who visited three academic hospitals for stone treatment. We assessed convergent validity of correlation patterns and internal consistency of the J-WISQOL and Short-Form 36-item survey version 2 (SF-36v2). Overall, 150 patients were enrolled. The mean total score of the J-WISQOL was 108.18 ± 20.26 (raw score min-max, 28-140), suggesting that the onset and symptoms of urinary stones reduced the HRQOL in the patients. The J-WISQOL showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's  = 0.96) and interdomain associations (Spearman's correlation coefficient  = 0.67-0.94). The J-WISQOL was correlated with the SF-36v2 in all domains: social, emotional, health, and vitality impact ( = 0.47-0.66). The J-WISQOL is a reliable instrument for evaluating HRQOL measures in patients with urinary stones. It could be a useful quality of life questionnaire for urinary stones in Japan. Clinical Trial 60-20-0047.