Adapting and validating the ETDQ-7 for the pediatric population

Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD) affects up to 40% of children and carries a significant impact on their development and quality of life. The Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire-7 (ETDQ-7) was created to assess the impact of ETD on the quality of life of adults; however, it has not been validated in children. Our study aims to adapt and validate the ETDQ-7 in the pediatric population.

Thirty-eight guardians of patients aged 4 years and older with ETD, along with 38 control participants, completed an adapted version of the ETDQ-7 questionnaire (pETDQ-7) during their visit to a tertiary care pediatric otolaryngology clinic. Otoscopy, tympanometry, as well as reported otologic symptoms were used to distinguish the two groups. The pETDQ-7 was then repeated by the responders 4 weeks later.

A total of 76 participants were included, with 38 in each arm. The mean age in the ETD group was 8.78 SD(±4.02) and 9.00 SD(±3.56) in the control group. A statistically significant difference in pETDQ-7 score was noted between the ETD and control groups (p < 0.0001), and the optimal cutoff point score for patients with ETD was a score of 10 points and above (p < 0.0001). Reliability testing demonstrated internal consistency for the entire questionnaire (Cronbach α=0.8622).

The pETDQ-7 appears to be a reliable and valid symptom assessment tool for pediatric patients with ETD that effectively quantifies the quality of life impact of this disease and could help monitor treatment outcomes in this population in the future.