title: Validation of the Voice Activity and Participation Profile protocol in Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to develop the Brazilian version of the Voice Activity and Participation Profile (VAPP) protocol and to demonstrate its measure properties so that it could be used as a self-evaluation instrument about the quality of life of Brazilian patients with vocal complaints.
  
  
  METHODS
  The translation and validation were performed following the guidelines of the Scientific Advisory Committee of Medical Outcomes Trust. The instrument was administered to 50 patients, 25 with vocal complaint and 25 without it. The instrument was submitted to linguistic/cultural adaptation, validation, reliability, reproducibility, and responsiveness. The VAPP protocol is composed of 28 questions distributed into five aspects: self-perception of the vocal problem intensity, effects at work, effects at daily communication, effects at social communication, and effects at emotion. Two additional scores are included: limitation in activities (LA) and participation restriction (PR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the Portuguese version of the VAPP protocol, called Perfil de Participação e Atividades Vocais (PPAV), is valid and reliable, presenting an acceptable reproducibility level, considering p<0.05. Responsiveness to treatment was determined by significant changes between results before and after treatment (self-awareness of the vocal problem intensity: 5.33/0.35, effects at work: 12.40/1.93, effects at daily communication: 42.55/6.75, effects at social communication: 7.05/2.42, effects at emotion: 62.5/61.9; LA: 33.3/2.81; PR: 28.7/8.28).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Brazilian version of the VAPP protocol is valid, reliable, and responsive to changes. Therefore, it can be proposed as a useful instrument to evaluate quality of life of dysphonic patients and the treatment outcomes.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ricarte
authors.forename: Gisele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Behlau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014177:Translations; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult