Reproducibility of the Dutch version of the Voice Handicap Index.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the reproducibility of the Dutch translation of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) by performing a test-retest study. To determine the relationship between the test-retest differences and the VHI scores.


METHODS
A group of 104 patients (56 male, 48 female) with voice complaints completed the VHI twice with a mean interval of 13 days.


RESULTS
There were no differences in scores between male and female patients. There was a good correlation between the first and the second measurement (r=0.95). The difference between two VHI scores of any one patient and the total score were not related. We found that a 14-point difference in total score of the Dutch VHI for 1 patient at two points in time is significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The Dutch version of the VHI has a good reproducibility. When used for clinical evaluation studies of patients with voice complaints, a difference of 14 points between two measurements is significant.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. m.hakkesteegt@erasmusmc.nl
Marieke M
MM
Hakkesteegt
Marjan H
MH
Wieringa
Elien J
EJ
Gerritsma
Louw
L
Feenstra
D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014177:Translations; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*