Development and Psychometric Validation of Tinnitus Qualities and Impact Questionnaire
<b>Background:</b> To develop and validate the Tinnitus Qualities and Impact Questionnaire (TQIQ), a new tool for evaluating the perceived qualities of tinnitus sound. <b>Method:</b> The study was part of two clinical trials on internet-based tinnitus interventions, using cro...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Clinics and Practice |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2039-7283/15/5/87 |
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| author | Vinaya Manchaiah Gerhard Andersson Eldré W. Beukes Marc A. Fagelson De Wet Swanepoel Eithne Heffernan David Maidment |
| author_facet | Vinaya Manchaiah Gerhard Andersson Eldré W. Beukes Marc A. Fagelson De Wet Swanepoel Eithne Heffernan David Maidment |
| author_sort | Vinaya Manchaiah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background:</b> To develop and validate the Tinnitus Qualities and Impact Questionnaire (TQIQ), a new tool for evaluating the perceived qualities of tinnitus sound. <b>Method:</b> The study was part of two clinical trials on internet-based tinnitus interventions, using cross-sectional (<i>n</i> = 380) and pretest–posttest data (<i>n</i> = 280). Participants completed various questionnaires online, including the newly developed TQIQ and measures of tinnitus severity (Tinnitus Functional Index; TFI), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7; GAD-7), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire 9; PHQ-9), insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index; ISI), and health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L Visual Analog Scale; VAS). The psychometric properties of the TQIQ were assessed, including construct validity, internal consistency reliability, floor and ceiling effects, interpretability, and responsiveness to treatment. <b>Results:</b> Exploratory factor analysis resulted in two factors that accounted for 57% of the variance—internal and external tinnitus qualities. Overall, 92% convergent validity predictions were confirmed; TQIQ total scores strongly (≥0.6) or moderately (0.30 to 0.59) correlated with the TFI, GAD-7, PHQ-9, and ISI. The known-groups validity prediction was confirmed as individuals with an overall TFI score > 50 (severe) obtained significantly higher TQIQ scores. All internal consistency reliability statistics were within the required range (Cronbach’s α > 0.8). Floor and ceiling effects were negligible. ROC established clinically important cut-off scores, enhancing the interpretability of tinnitus severity classification. Finally, 89% convergent validity predictions were confirmed; TQIQ and TFI change scores were moderately correlated, indicating good responsiveness of the former to treatment. <b>Conclusions:</b> The TQIQ has adequate psychometric properties, providing a standardized measure for the assessment of characteristics of tinnitus sound in clinical practice. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fbefc4a0801e414cbc6aa21832604cbf |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2039-7283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Clinics and Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-fbefc4a0801e414cbc6aa21832604cbf2025-08-20T03:47:48ZengMDPI AGClinics and Practice2039-72832025-04-011558710.3390/clinpract15050087Development and Psychometric Validation of Tinnitus Qualities and Impact QuestionnaireVinaya Manchaiah0Gerhard Andersson1Eldré W. Beukes2Marc A. Fagelson3De Wet Swanepoel4Eithne Heffernan5David Maidment6Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USADepartment of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 581-83 Linköping, SwedenVirtual Hearing Lab, Collaborative Initiative Between University of Colorado School of Medicine and University of Pretoria, Aurora, CO 80045, USADepartment of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USADepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USANational Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UKSchool of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3UT, UK<b>Background:</b> To develop and validate the Tinnitus Qualities and Impact Questionnaire (TQIQ), a new tool for evaluating the perceived qualities of tinnitus sound. <b>Method:</b> The study was part of two clinical trials on internet-based tinnitus interventions, using cross-sectional (<i>n</i> = 380) and pretest–posttest data (<i>n</i> = 280). Participants completed various questionnaires online, including the newly developed TQIQ and measures of tinnitus severity (Tinnitus Functional Index; TFI), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7; GAD-7), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire 9; PHQ-9), insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index; ISI), and health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L Visual Analog Scale; VAS). The psychometric properties of the TQIQ were assessed, including construct validity, internal consistency reliability, floor and ceiling effects, interpretability, and responsiveness to treatment. <b>Results:</b> Exploratory factor analysis resulted in two factors that accounted for 57% of the variance—internal and external tinnitus qualities. Overall, 92% convergent validity predictions were confirmed; TQIQ total scores strongly (≥0.6) or moderately (0.30 to 0.59) correlated with the TFI, GAD-7, PHQ-9, and ISI. The known-groups validity prediction was confirmed as individuals with an overall TFI score > 50 (severe) obtained significantly higher TQIQ scores. All internal consistency reliability statistics were within the required range (Cronbach’s α > 0.8). Floor and ceiling effects were negligible. ROC established clinically important cut-off scores, enhancing the interpretability of tinnitus severity classification. Finally, 89% convergent validity predictions were confirmed; TQIQ and TFI change scores were moderately correlated, indicating good responsiveness of the former to treatment. <b>Conclusions:</b> The TQIQ has adequate psychometric properties, providing a standardized measure for the assessment of characteristics of tinnitus sound in clinical practice.https://www.mdpi.com/2039-7283/15/5/87tinnitustinnitus sensationoutcome measurespsychometric validationquestionnaire |
| spellingShingle | Vinaya Manchaiah Gerhard Andersson Eldré W. Beukes Marc A. Fagelson De Wet Swanepoel Eithne Heffernan David Maidment Development and Psychometric Validation of Tinnitus Qualities and Impact Questionnaire Clinics and Practice tinnitus tinnitus sensation outcome measures psychometric validation questionnaire |
| title | Development and Psychometric Validation of Tinnitus Qualities and Impact Questionnaire |
| title_full | Development and Psychometric Validation of Tinnitus Qualities and Impact Questionnaire |
| title_fullStr | Development and Psychometric Validation of Tinnitus Qualities and Impact Questionnaire |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development and Psychometric Validation of Tinnitus Qualities and Impact Questionnaire |
| title_short | Development and Psychometric Validation of Tinnitus Qualities and Impact Questionnaire |
| title_sort | development and psychometric validation of tinnitus qualities and impact questionnaire |
| topic | tinnitus tinnitus sensation outcome measures psychometric validation questionnaire |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2039-7283/15/5/87 |
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