Psychometric Properties and Concurrent Validity of a 10-Item Questionnaire for Patients With Vestibular Disorders

Area of Science:

• Audiology and Otolaryngology
• Psychometrics
• Neurology

Background:

• Vestibular disorders significantly impact patients' quality of life, affecting symptom severity and emotional well-being.
• Accurate assessment tools are crucial for understanding and managing these complex conditions.
• Existing questionnaires may be lengthy or not fully capture the multifaceted nature of dizziness symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Haukeland Dizziness Questionnaire (HDQ-10).
• To determine the concurrent validity of the HDQ-10 against established dizziness and psychological scales.
• To establish the HDQ-10 as a simplified tool for assessing symptom severity and emotional effects in vestibular disorders.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted with 201 patients diagnosed with suspected vestibular disease.
• Exploratory factor analysis and internal consistency analysis were used to examine psychometric properties.
• Concurrent validity was assessed by comparing HDQ-10 scores with the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and Vertigo Symptom Scale-Short Form (VSS-SF).

Main Results:

• Factor analysis identified three subscales: function, unsteadiness, and emotion.
• The HDQ-10 demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties, with good internal consistency (α = .866).
• High correlations were found between HDQ-10 and DHI (r = .732) and VSS-SF (r = .720), indicating good concurrent validity.

Conclusions:

• The Haukeland Dizziness Questionnaire (HDQ-10) is a valid and reliable 10-item instrument.
• The HDQ-10 provides a simplified yet comprehensive assessment of symptom severity and emotional impact in patients with vestibular disorders.
• Its satisfactory psychometric properties and good concurrent validity support its use in clinical practice and research.