Translation and validation of the Hebrew version of the xerostomia inventory

Xerostomia significantly affects oral health and quality of life, yet no validated Hebrew assessment exists. This study aimed to translate the Xerostomia Inventory (XI) into Hebrew (HXI) and evaluate its validity and reliability.

The XI was translated into Hebrew using cross-cultural adaptation guidelines. The HXI was examined for internal consistency, using Cronbach's alpha, as well as for construct validity (convergent and discriminant validity).

The HXI was completed by 102 xerostomia patients, 89.2% women, and the mean age was 63.5 ± 13.8 years with age range of 20-90 years. The mean HXI score was 39.9 ± 1.2, with score range 12-55. The HXI exhibited a high level of reliability with Cronbach's α = 0.975. The convergent validity of the HXI, indicated by Spearman's correlation between the HXI and the unstimulated salivary flow (USF) whole volume, demonstrated a strong, negative, and statistically significant correlation (r = -0.862). Strong negative correlations were also found between the total HXI score and other sialometry variables (ranging from r=-0.696 to r=-0.879). The absence of significant associations between the HXI scores and unrelated sociodemographic variables supports the discriminant validity of the HXI. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a robust unidimensional structure for the Hebrew 11-item HXI, with a single factor accounting for 80.3% of the total variance and all item loadings exceeding 0.82.

The HXI is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing xerostomia in Hebrew-speaking populations, demonstrating psychometric robustness consistent with international versions.

The HXI provides a valid and reliable tool for assessing patient-reported oral dryness, supporting diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of interventions in Hebrew-speaking populations.