Validation of the Polish Version of Voice Handicap Index-10

• Published in: Journal of voice 2023-05
• Main Authors: Miaśkiewicz, Beata, Gos, Elżbieta, Dębińska, Małgorzata, Panasiewicz-Wosik, Aleksandra, Kapustka, Dorota, Szkiełkowska, Agata, Skarżynski, Henryk
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Quality of life; Reliability; Validity; Voice assessment tool; Voice handicap index
• ISSN: 0892-1997; 1873-4588
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2023.02.031

The aim of this study was to adapt and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the VHI-10. We enrolled 183 subjects—118 patients with voice disorders and 65 without voice disorders. All items were correlated with each other and were strongly correlated with the total score (rho ≥ 0.70), the only exception being item five (rho = 0.56). Internal consistency was very high, with Cronbach's alpha = 0.92. There was a statistically significant difference between patients with voice disorders and healthy controls in terms of VHI-10 global score (U = 251.0; P < 0.001). There was a statistically significant negative correlation between mean phonation time (MPT) and VHI-10 (rho = −0.30; P < 0.01). Only the amplitude perturbation quotient (APQ) was correlated positively with the global score (rho = 0.22; P = 0.020). There were statistically significant and positive correlations between VHI-10 scores and GRBAS evaluation. Correlations between global scores of VHI-30 and VHI-10, and between VHI-30 subscales and the corresponding items from VHI-10, were very strong (respectively 0.97 and 0.89–0.94). In the patient group, there was high test–retest reproducibility (intraclass correlation = 0.91). A cut-off value of 8.5 points was estimated. The Polish version of VHI-10 showed excellent internal consistency, good test–retest reproducibility, and had clinical validity. It is a useful brief tool for self-reported evaluation and reliable assessment of patients with voice disorders.