Turkish validity and reliability of Eustachian tube dysfunction questionnaire-7.

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Audiology
• Health Outcomes Research

Background:

• Standardized scales are crucial for interpreting patient complaints related to Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD).
• Monitoring treatment success for ETD necessitates validated, disease-specific assessment tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the validity and reliability of the Turkish translation of the Eustachian tube dysfunction questionnaire-7 (ETDQ-7).

Main Methods:

• The study involved 40 patients with ETD and 40 healthy controls.
• Language validation was performed, followed by scale administration to both groups.
• Validity was assessed using the known-groups method, and reliability was analyzed through test-retest, internal consistency, and item-total score correlations.

Main Results:

• The Turkish ETDQ-7 demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.714) and strong test-retest reliability (r = 0.792).
• Scores were significantly higher in the ETD group compared to the control group (p<0.001), indicating good discriminant validity.

Conclusions:

• The Turkish version of the ETDQ-7 is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing Eustachian tube dysfunction.
• This questionnaire is recommended for screening ETD and evaluating treatment efficacy in Turkish-speaking patients.