Clinical Benefits of the Utrecht Questionnaire for Aesthetic Outcome Assessment in Rhinoplasty: An Update

Abstract

Presently, there is no consensus on which patient reported outcome measurement (PROM) instrument is best suited to assess the aesthetic outcomes of rhinoplasty. In this regard, at least seven different validated PROMs are available from the literature, each one with advantages and disadvantages. In this article, we review the development, validation, international translation, and clinical application of the Utrecht Questionnaire (UQ). The UQ was developed in 2009 with the idea to be a short and practical tool for the rhinoplasty surgeon to assess the aesthetic outcomes of rhinoplasty. The questionnaire was then validated in 2013. Body image in relation to nasal appearance is quantified with five simple questions on a 5-point Likert scale and a Visual Analogue Scale score. We discuss how the UQ can easily be incorporated and become an important asset in a rhinoplasty practice. Practical benefits, such as its role in the shared-decision making process, patient expectations management, identification of unsuitable patients, avoiding revision surgery, and the evaluation of the surgeon’s personal performance curve are exemplified. Currently, the UQ has been translated and validated in four languages, providing scientific opportunities to generate and compare international data for advances in rhinoplasty. We describe some of the significant scientific contributions of leaders in the field of rhinoplasty that used the UQ.