title: Psychometric evaluation of disease specific quality of life instruments in voice disorders.
abstract: The objective of this study was to compare the psychometric properties of voice disordered quality of life (VQOL) instruments. Nine VQOL instruments were identified through a comprehensive literature search. Based on specific criteria, four were selected for comprehensive review: Voice Handicap Index (VHI), Voice Activity and Participation Profile (VAPP), Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) and Voice Outcome Survey (VOS). Selected instruments were evaluated based on 11 measurement standards related to item information, versatility, practicality, breadth and depth of health measure, reliability, validity, and responsiveness. VHI and V-RQOL each met 7 of 11 criteria, with VHI showing additional preferable item information, practicality, and reliability over V-RQOL and V-RQOL showing preferable responsiveness properties over VHI. These study results do not support the Social Security Administration's recent conclusion that the VHI meets reliability and validity standards for individual decision making. Nevertheless, the present results do support the use of VHI total scores for clinical use with individual patients, and the use of V-RQOL total scores or individual dimension scores for use with groups of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, RC Wilson Building Room 254, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602-2354, USA. dfranic@mail.rx.uga.edu
authors.forename: Duska M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Franic
authors.forename: Robin Edge
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Bramlett
authors.forename: Anne Cordes
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bothe
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*