Spanish translation, adaptation, and validation of the 32-item questionnaire on quality of life for inflammatory bowel disease (IBDQ-32)

Introduction: the measurement of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has an established relevance in the assessment, management, and follow-up of inflammatory bowel disease. The most commonly used measuring instrument is the 32-item version of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ-32), which has never been adapted to Spanish. Objective: to translate IBDQ-32 into Spanish, and to establish its validity, reliability, and sensitivity both in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Method: a prospective study in two phases-translation into Spanish and subsequent validation of IBDQ-32. Translation was based on the validated Spanish version of IBDQ-36, and IBDQ-32 items not included in IBDQ-36 were translated from scratch. Once the IBDQ32 translation was completed a comprehension-specific questionnaire was administered. To establish IBDQ-32 psychometric properties a group of patients completed both the validated Spanish version of IBDQ-36 and IBDQ-32. Results: eighty-four patients (53 with Crohn's disease and 31 with ulcerative colitis) were included. Median overall scores in both questionnaires for all 84 patients did not differ (6.1 vs. 6.2, p = ns), and Spearman's correlation was highly significant (r = 0.97, p < 0.001). The ability to discriminate between patients in flare-up or remission was also equivalent for both questionnaires (6.4 vs. 6.4 with r = 0.96 in remission and 3.8 vs. 3.9 with r = 0.95 active, p < 0.001 for remission vs. activity). These results were obtained in both the analyses for CD and UC independently (6.4 vs. 6.4 and 6.7 vs. 6.6, respectively; p = ns). Conclusion: the Spanish version of IBDQ-32 is valid and discriminating for patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.