Manchaiah Vinaya, Andersson Gerhard, Beukes Eldré W, Fagelson Marc A, Swanepoel De Wet, Heffernan Eithne, Maidment David
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
UC Health Hearing and Balance, University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
Clin Pract. 2025 Apr 27;15(5):87. doi: 10.3390/clinpract15050087.
To develop and validate the Tinnitus Qualities and Impact Questionnaire (TQIQ), a new tool for evaluating the perceived qualities of tinnitus sound. The study was part of two clinical trials on internet-based tinnitus interventions, using cross-sectional ( = 380) and pretest-posttest data ( = 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. 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. The TQIQ has adequate psychometric properties, providing a standardized measure for the assessment of characteristics of tinnitus sound in clinical practice.
开发并验证耳鸣特质与影响问卷（TQIQ），这是一种用于评估耳鸣声音感知特质的新工具。该研究是两项基于互联网的耳鸣干预临床试验的一部分，使用了横断面数据（n = 380）和前测 - 后测数据（n = 280）。参与者在线完成了各种问卷，包括新开发的TQIQ以及耳鸣严重程度（耳鸣功能指数；TFI）、焦虑（广泛性焦虑障碍7项；GAD - 7）、抑郁（患者健康问卷9项；PHQ - 9）、失眠（失眠严重程度指数；ISI）和健康相关生活质量（EQ - 5D - 5L视觉模拟量表；VAS）的测量。评估了TQIQ的心理测量特性，包括结构效度、内部一致性信度、地板效应和天花板效应、可解释性以及对治疗的反应性。探索性因素分析得出两个因素，解释了57%的方差——耳鸣的内部和外部特质。总体而言，92%的收敛效度预测得到证实；TQIQ总分与TFI、GAD - 7、PHQ - 9和ISI呈强相关（≥0.6）或中度相关（0.30至0.59）。已知组效度预测得到证实，因为TFI总分>50（严重）的个体获得了显著更高的TQIQ分数。所有内部一致性信度统计数据均在要求范围内（Cronbach's α>0.8）。地板效应和天花板效应可忽略不计。ROC确定了具有临床意义的临界分数，增强了耳鸣严重程度分类的可解释性。最后，89%的收敛效度预测得到证实；TQIQ和TFI变化分数呈中度相关，表明前者对治疗具有良好的反应性。TQIQ具有足够的心理测量特性，为临床实践中评估耳鸣声音特征提供了一种标准化测量方法。
