Reliability and Validity of a Korean Adaptation of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Several self-report measures had been developed to assess the handicap due to tinnitus, although they lacked reliability and validity. Well-validated instruments, however, are essential for evaluation and treatment. Newman et al. developed the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and researches have examined its reliability and validity. The objective of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of a Korean adaptation of the THI. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The Korean adaptation of THI was administered to 111 patients with tinnitus, who visited the Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery department of Samsung Medical Center from March to August of 2001. Convergent validity was assessed using Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire (THQ), and construct validity was examined using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S), the somatization subscale of SCL-90-R (SOM) and etc. RESULTS: 1) The Korean adaptation of THI and its subsclaes showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=.95-.79) comparable to those of the original version. 2) THI and its subscales demonstrated high test-retest reliabilities (r=.91-.73) comparable to those of the original. 3) High correlation was observed between THI and THQ (r=.83). 4) Moderate correlations were observed among THI, BDI (r=.40-.51), STAI-S (r=.43-.68), SOM (r=.49-.59), the perceived loudness of tinnitus (r=.33-.46), and the perceived handicap of tinnitus (r=.44-.64). 5) A confirmatory factor analysis partly supported 3 factors of THI. CONCLUSION: We found THI and its subscales to have valuable internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent and construct validity. The results suggest that the Korean adaptation of THI, especially the total score it generates, is a reliable and valid measure of general distress related tinnitus.