Abstract
BACKGROUD: The International Hip Outcome Tool 12 (iHOT12), which is now widely adopted in clinical settings, has been established as reliable, valid, and responsive, positioning as a critical evaluation tool globally to gauge the efficacy of hip arthroscopy. This study aimed to translate the iHOT12 questionnaire into Korean and assess its feasibility, internal consistency, and validity concerning the psychometric properties of the Korean version of iHOT12 (iHOT12-K). METHODS: The iHOT12 questionnaire was translated into Korean and adapted culturally, following international guidelines, involving forward translation, back-translation, and reconciliation by bilingual experts to ensure cross-cultural equivalence. A cohort of 67 patients diagnosed with femoroacetabular impingement and scheduled for hip arthroscopy between November 2015 and February 2021 participated in assessing the psychometric properties of the iHOT12-K, alongside standardized questionnaires (Korean iterations of the Short Form-36 [SF-36], Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score [HOOS], Korean version of Hip Outcome Score [HOS-K], and modified Harris Hip Score [mHHS]). Psychometric evaluations focusing on feasibility, internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), and convergent validity (Spearman's rank correlation) demonstrated the reliability and relevance of iHOT12-K. RESULTS: In the psychometric evaluation of the adapted version, 67 participants (38 men and 29 women; median age, 41 years) were enrolled, with 59 completing the iHOT12-K. The questionnaire showed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha, 0.896) without floor or ceiling effects, indicating good feasibility. Strong convergent validity was noted between the iHOT12-K and various hip-specific questionnaires (HOOS, HOS-K, and mHHS), except for the maximal visual analog scale score, demonstrating the reliability and applicability of the iHOT12-K for clinical assessments in Korea. CONCLUSIONS: The iHOT12-K has successfully undergone transcultural adaptation, demonstrating significant feasibility, internal consistency, and validity. It has been validated for use among Korean-speaking patients undergoing hip arthroscopy, proving to be a valuable tool for clinical assessments.