Tinnitus functional index: validation of the German version for Switzerland
Abstract Background Different standardized questionnaires are used to assess tinnitus severity, making comparisons across studies difficult. These questionnaires are also used to measure treatment-related changes in tinnitus although they were not designed for this purpose. To solve these problems,...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-05-01
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| Series: | Health and Quality of Life Outcomes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12955-017-0669-x |
| _version_ | 1819183105833959424 |
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| author | Nicole Peter Tobias Kleinjung Raphael Jeker Martin Meyer Richard Klaghofer Steffi Weidt |
| author_facet | Nicole Peter Tobias Kleinjung Raphael Jeker Martin Meyer Richard Klaghofer Steffi Weidt |
| author_sort | Nicole Peter |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Different standardized questionnaires are used to assess tinnitus severity, making comparisons across studies difficult. These questionnaires are also used to measure treatment-related changes in tinnitus although they were not designed for this purpose. To solve these problems, a new questionnaire - the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) - has been established. The TFI is highly responsive to treatment-related change and promises to be the new gold standard in tinnitus evaluation. The aim of the current study was to validate a German version of the TFI for a German-speaking population in Switzerland. Methods At the ENT department of the University Hospital Zurich, 264 subjects completed an online survey including the German version for Switzerland of TFI, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and sociodemographic variables. Internal consistency of the TFI was calculated with Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Pearson correlation coefficients were used for the test-retest reliability of the TFI and to investigate convergent and discriminant validity between the THI and the BDI and BAI, respectively. Factor analysis was assessed using a principal component analysis with oblique rotation. The different factors extracted were then compared with the original questionnaire. Results The German version of the TFI for Switzerland showed an excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha of 0.97) and an excellent test-retest reliability of 0.91. The convergent validity with THI was high (r = 0.86). The discriminant validity with BAI and BDI showed moderate results (BAI: r = 0.60 and BDI: r = 0.65). In the factor analysis only five factors with one main factor could be extracted instead of eight factors as described in the original version. Nevertheless, relations to the original eight subscales could be demonstrated. Conclusion The German version of the TFI for Switzerland is a suitable instrument for measuring the impact of tinnitus. The reliability and validity of this version are comparable with the original version of the TFI. Although this study showed only five factors in the factor analysis, relations to the original eight subscales were identified. Therefore, the German version of the TFI for Switzerland can deliver relevant information regarding the different tinnitus domains. Trial registration Clinical trial registration number on clinicaltrial.gov: NCT01837368 . |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T22:56:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-44a3c23ccf264de2930c564a97e2c3f9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1477-7525 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T22:56:44Z |
| publishDate | 2017-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health and Quality of Life Outcomes |
| spelling | doaj.art-44a3c23ccf264de2930c564a97e2c3f92022-12-21T18:09:48ZengBMCHealth and Quality of Life Outcomes1477-75252017-05-011511910.1186/s12955-017-0669-xTinnitus functional index: validation of the German version for SwitzerlandNicole Peter0Tobias Kleinjung1Raphael Jeker2Martin Meyer3Richard Klaghofer4Steffi Weidt5Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital of ZurichDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital of ZurichDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital of ZurichDepartment of Psychology, University of ZurichDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of ZurichDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of ZurichAbstract Background Different standardized questionnaires are used to assess tinnitus severity, making comparisons across studies difficult. These questionnaires are also used to measure treatment-related changes in tinnitus although they were not designed for this purpose. To solve these problems, a new questionnaire - the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) - has been established. The TFI is highly responsive to treatment-related change and promises to be the new gold standard in tinnitus evaluation. The aim of the current study was to validate a German version of the TFI for a German-speaking population in Switzerland. Methods At the ENT department of the University Hospital Zurich, 264 subjects completed an online survey including the German version for Switzerland of TFI, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and sociodemographic variables. Internal consistency of the TFI was calculated with Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Pearson correlation coefficients were used for the test-retest reliability of the TFI and to investigate convergent and discriminant validity between the THI and the BDI and BAI, respectively. Factor analysis was assessed using a principal component analysis with oblique rotation. The different factors extracted were then compared with the original questionnaire. Results The German version of the TFI for Switzerland showed an excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha of 0.97) and an excellent test-retest reliability of 0.91. The convergent validity with THI was high (r = 0.86). The discriminant validity with BAI and BDI showed moderate results (BAI: r = 0.60 and BDI: r = 0.65). In the factor analysis only five factors with one main factor could be extracted instead of eight factors as described in the original version. Nevertheless, relations to the original eight subscales could be demonstrated. Conclusion The German version of the TFI for Switzerland is a suitable instrument for measuring the impact of tinnitus. The reliability and validity of this version are comparable with the original version of the TFI. Although this study showed only five factors in the factor analysis, relations to the original eight subscales were identified. Therefore, the German version of the TFI for Switzerland can deliver relevant information regarding the different tinnitus domains. Trial registration Clinical trial registration number on clinicaltrial.gov: NCT01837368 .http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12955-017-0669-xTinnitusTinnitus functional index (TFI)Tinnitus handicap inventory (THI)ValidationBeck depression index (BDI)Beck anxiety index (BAI) |
| spellingShingle | Nicole Peter Tobias Kleinjung Raphael Jeker Martin Meyer Richard Klaghofer Steffi Weidt Tinnitus functional index: validation of the German version for Switzerland Health and Quality of Life Outcomes Tinnitus Tinnitus functional index (TFI) Tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) Validation Beck depression index (BDI) Beck anxiety index (BAI) |
| title | Tinnitus functional index: validation of the German version for Switzerland |
| title_full | Tinnitus functional index: validation of the German version for Switzerland |
| title_fullStr | Tinnitus functional index: validation of the German version for Switzerland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tinnitus functional index: validation of the German version for Switzerland |
| title_short | Tinnitus functional index: validation of the German version for Switzerland |
| title_sort | tinnitus functional index validation of the german version for switzerland |
| topic | Tinnitus Tinnitus functional index (TFI) Tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) Validation Beck depression index (BDI) Beck anxiety index (BAI) |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12955-017-0669-x |
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