Validation of the Persian Version of IMPACT-III Quality of Life Questionnaire in Iranian Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) can adversely affect children in many different ways. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) involves all aspects of life quality, along with physical or mental perceptions of health, which could exert an overall effect on an individual’s health. The IMPACT-III questionnaire is a well-established and validated tool for evaluation of the HRQOL in children with IBD.

The objective of this work was to translate this tool into Persian so it could be utilized in Iran.

In collaboration with the developer of IMPACT-III, a standardized translation and validation process was undertaken. Assessment steps included (1) translation of IMPACT-III into Persian; (2) assessment of the clarity and wording of the tool; and (3) ascertain the reliability and validity of the adapted instrument using a test-retest assessment. Patient scores were evaluated within four domains (social performance, body image, emotional and physical dimensions) and analysis undertaken with SPSS (version 16). The study was completed in Mashhad and Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran, between June 2014 and Jan 2015.

IMPACT-III total score in patients with inactive disease was significantly higher than patients with active disease (P < 0.001) consistent with better quality of life. The IMPACT-III total score did not differ according to gender or socio-economic status (P > 0.05). Children with ulcerative colitis had higher IMPACT-III scores than the children with Crohn disease (P = 0.001).

This study indicates convincing validity and reliability for the four-factor IMPACT-III scores regarding HRQOL in children with IBD. The Farsi version of this tool can now be utilized for clinical and research applications.