Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Chinese Voice Handicap Index-10.
OBJECTIVE
Recent developments in voice assessment propose the use of quality of life measurements. The Voice Handicap Index (VHI) is one of the most psychometrically robust and well-studied instruments among the various instruments for measuring quality of life. Two versions of VHI (VHI-30 and VHI-10) have been shown to be valid instruments for distinguishing dysphonic from nondysphonic individuals and also for documenting treatment effect for dysphonic patients. The VHI has been used worldwide; however, the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of VHI remains untested. This study aimed to investigate such properties of the Chinese VHI-30 and VHI-10 in the Hong Kong Chinese population.


METHODS
Psychometric analysis of the Chinese VHI-30 and VHI-10 in dysphonic patients and control subjects.


METHODS
The original VHI-30 was translated into Chinese and was completed by 131 dysphonic patients and 54 nondysphonic individuals. The dysphonic patients also self-rated their dysphonic severity.


RESULTS
Results showed high test-retest reliability and high item-total correlation for both Chinese VHI-30 and VHI-10. Both Chinese versions could be used to distinguish different dysphonic groups and between dysphonic and nondysphonic groups. Significant correlation was found between the VHI scores and the patients' self-rated dysphonic severity.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study supported the original three-factorial structures of the VHI-30 and the use of the VHI for the Chinese population. It is shown that the Chinese VHI-10 is a strong representation of VHI-30 and is recommended for use in clinics because of its validity and ease of use by patients.
Lam
Paul K Y
PK
Division of Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong Medical Centre, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
Chan
Karen M
KM
Ho
W K
WK
Kwong
Elaine
E
Yiu
Edwin M
EM
Wei
William I
WI
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000145:classification*; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000534:rehabilitation