About the iHOT-12
The iHOT-12 is a concise, validated patient-reported outcome measure specifically designed for young, active patients with hip disorders. Developed as a shortened version of the 33-item iHOT, this questionnaire efficiently captures how your hip condition affects your daily life, physical activity, and overall well-being. It is particularly useful for assessing outcomes following hip arthroscopy, hip preservation procedures, and for monitoring the impact of conditions such as femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and labral tears.
Medical Specialties
Anatomic Areas
Clinical Indications
Developer Information
The iHOT-12 was developed by Dr. Nicholas Mohtadi and colleagues at the University of Calgary as a shortened version of the iHOT-33 to facilitate routine clinical practice. The original iHOT-33 was developed using rigorous methodology including patient input and psychometric validation. The iHOT-12 retains the essential measurement properties of the original tool while being more practical for clinical use. It has been validated across multiple languages and populations.
Copyright & Licensing
The iHOT-12 is freely available for clinical and research use. No licensing fee is required. When using the questionnaire, please cite the original validation studies. For translations or modifications, please consult the original developers.
Administration Instructions
Please answer all 12 questions about your hip condition. For each question, move the slider to indicate your current status. The left side (0) represents the worst possible outcome, and the right side (100) represents no problems at all.
Scoring Methodology
Each of the 12 items is scored on a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) from 0 to 100, where 0 represents the worst possible outcome and 100 represents no problems at all. The overall iHOT-12 score is calculated as the mean (average) of all completed item responses. This produces a total score ranging from 0 to 100, where higher scores indicate better hip function and quality of life. The questionnaire assesses four key domains: symptoms and functional limitations (items 1-4), sports and recreational activities (items 5, 7, 11), job-related concerns (item 6), and social, emotional, and lifestyle factors (items 8-10, 12).
Meaningful Change Threshold
The Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) for the iHOT-12 is approximately 13 points, representing the smallest change that patients perceive as beneficial. A Substantial Clinical Benefit (SCB) is achieved with an improvement of 28 points or more. The Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) threshold is a score of 63 or higher at one year post-operation, indicating a satisfactory symptom state from the patient's perspective.
Score Interpretation
Understanding what your score means
poor
0 - 39Poor hip function with significant impact on activities and quality of life. Patients in this range typically experience substantial limitations in daily activities and sports.
fair
40 - 62Fair hip function with moderate limitations. Below the Patient Acceptable Symptom State threshold, suggesting ongoing symptoms affecting quality of life.
good
63 - 79Good hip function, at or above the Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) threshold. Most patients in this range report satisfactory outcomes.
excellent
80 - 100Excellent hip function with minimal or no symptoms. Near-normal quality of life related to hip health.
Subscales
This questionnaire measures multiple dimensions
Symptoms and Functional Limitations
Assesses hip pain, getting up from floor, walking distances, and mechanical symptoms
Sports and Recreational Activities
Evaluates activity-related limitations and pain after physical activity
Job-Related Concerns
Addresses concerns about work-related activities involving the hip
Social, Emotional, and Lifestyle
Measures impact on quality of life, awareness of condition, and overall distraction
Clinical Limitations & Considerations
The iHOT-12 is specifically designed for young, active patients with hip disorders and may not be appropriate for older populations or those with advanced hip osteoarthritis requiring joint replacement. The questionnaire focuses on quality of life in active individuals and may not capture all aspects relevant to sedentary patients. Some questions (e.g., sports participation, carrying children) may not be applicable to all patients. The tool should be used as part of a comprehensive clinical assessment rather than as a standalone diagnostic measure.
Supporting Literature
Key validation and development studies for the iHOT-12
- 1
The Development and Validation of a Self-Administered Quality-of-Life Outcome Measure for Young, Active Patients With Symptomatic Hip Disease: The International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-33)
Mohtadi NGH, Griffin DR, Pedersen ME, Chan D, Safran MR, Parsons N, Sekiya JK, Kelly BT, Werle JR, Leunig M, McCarthy JC, Martin HD, Byrd JWT, Philippon MJ, Martin RL, Guanche CA, Clohisy JC, Sampson TG, Kocher MS, Larson CM, Multicenter Arthroscopy of the Hip Outcomes Research Network (MAHORN)
Arthroscopy, 2012
- 2
A Short Version of the International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-12) for Use in Routine Clinical Practice
Griffin DR, Parsons N, Mohtadi NGH, Safran MR, Multicenter Arthroscopy of the Hip Outcomes Research Network (MAHORN)
Arthroscopy, 2012
- 3
How Should We Define Clinically Significant Outcome Improvement on the iHOT-12?
Nwachukwu BU, Chang B, Beck EC, Neal WH, Movassaghi K, Ranawat AS, Nho SJ
HSS Journal, 2019
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This questionnaire is provided free of charge. Patient Watch charges only for platform services (data storage, automated reminders, analytics) - not for use of clinical instruments. This non-commercial model supports academic and clinical use. View full licensing disclosure