The Translation and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of The Persian Version of The WERF EPHect Endometriosis Patient Questionnaire: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The World Endometriosis Research Foundation (WERF) Endometriosis Phenome and Biobanking Harmonisation Project (EPHect) aims to facilitate international research on endometriosis by developing a standardized questionnaire. This study focuses on translating and validating the Persian version of the endometriosis patient questionnaire (EPQ), ensuring cultural compatibility and reliability for future studies in the region.

Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 37 women aged between 18 and 45 years who were assessed for endometriosis through diagnostic sonography or laparoscopy, or were suffering from symptoms such as dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, pelvic pain not associated with menstruation lasting more than six months, were evaluated. The evaluation took place from May 2021 to December 2023. The research methodology was structured into two phases: translation and cross-cultural adaptation, followed by cross-cultural validation. The Persian version of the WERF EPHect was translated and adapted in accordance with established guidelines. Content validity was evaluated by six experts in the relevant fields, while face validity was assessed qualitatively by seven participants. To determine the reliability of the final version of the Persian questionnaire, 30 patients diagnosed with endometriosis completed it on two separate occasions that were two weeks apart, with the repeatability of each question analyzed using Kappa statistics.

Results: The translated questionnaire was administered to 30 patients diagnosed with endometriosis, with an average completion time of 55 minutes. Final modifications to the questionnaire were made to align with the Iranian culture, incorporating feedback from specialists and study participants. Overall, the findings suggest that the Persian version demonstrates both validity and reliability in medical and cultural aspects.

Conclusion: The recent study demonstrated that the Persian version of the WERF-EPHect questionnaire is both valid and reliable, with cultural relevance. Additional validation studies conducted in various languages will help eliminate language and cultural disparities, facilitating collaborative, large-scale, prospective international research on endometriosis.