Abstract
Objective: To describe how the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) was translated into Polish (THI-POL) and to present psychometric data on how well it performed in a clinical population of tinnitus sufferers. Design: The original version of THI was adapted into Polish. The reliability of THI-POL was investigated using test–retest, Cronbach’s alpha, endorsement rate and item–total correlation. Construct validity and convergent validity were also assessed based on confirmatory factor analysis, inter-item correlation and Pearson product-moment correlations using subscale A (Tinnitus) of the Tinnitus and Hearing Survey (THS-POL); divergent validity was checked using subscale B (Hearing) of THS-POL. Study sample: A group of 167 adults filled in THI-POL twice over their three-day hospitalisation period. Results: Test–retest reliability for the total THI-POL scores was strong (r = 0.91). Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the total score was high (r = 0.95), confirming the questionnaire’s stability. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and inter-item correlation did not confirm the three-factor model. Convergent validity from the Tinnitus subscale of THS showed a positive strong (r = 0.75) correlation. Divergent validity showed only a moderate correlation. All analyses were statistically significant (p < 0.01). Conclusions: THI-POL is a valid and reliable self-administered tool, which allows the overall tinnitus handicap of Polish-speaking patients to be effectively assessed.
Acknowledgements
The authors express gratitude to colleagues from the World Hearing Center: Lucyna Karpiesz, Iwona Niedziałek, Izabela Sarnicka and Karina Karendys – doctors and psychologists with excellent experience in helping people with tinnitus – for their invaluable expertise and assistance. Special thanks also to Elżbieta Gos for statistical analyses.
Declaration of interest
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Supplementary material available online