Brueggemann P, Goebel G, Boecking B, Hofrichter N, Rose M, Mazurek B. [Analysis of items on the short forms of the tinnitus questionnaire: Mini-TQ-12 and Mini-TQ-15].
HNO 2023;
71:708-718. [PMID:
37702795 PMCID:
PMC10589196 DOI:
10.1007/s00106-023-01365-z]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
A brief but reliable measurement of tinnitus-related distress is crucial for understanding and treatment options for this often very limiting symptom. Several self-report questionnaires are used in German-speaking countries and several short versions exist for the German translation of the Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ).
OBJECTIVE
In the present work, the frequently used Mini-TQ-12 questionnaire and the newly developed Mini-TQ-15 questionnaire will be investigated with regard to reliability, item difficulty, sensitivity (discriminatory power), and predictive power of the items in order to facilitate a decision for one or the other questionnaire in different examination contexts.
METHODS
Data from 1409 patients with chronic tinnitus who completed the German 52-item version of the TQ and additional psychological tests (ADS‑L, BSF, PHQ, ACSA and SWOP) at the Tinnitus Centre of the Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Germany, were retrospectively analyzed. We performed external validation of items from different versions of the TQ (original version, Mini-TQ-12, and Mini-TQ-15).
RESULTS
The items of the Mini-TQ-12 and the Mini-TQ-15 predicted specifically the total score. Both short questionnaires are of comparable quality in terms of reliability and item construction (difficulty, discriminatory power).
CONCLUSION
Both questionnaires have a very good item quality and are clinically more efficient to use than the long-form TQ. If a similarity of the factor structure to the original questionnaire is required for research questions, the use of the Mini-TQ-15 is recommended.
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