Adaptation and validation of the Latin-American Spanish version of the VHI-10 (LASVHI-10)

Abstract

Purpose

To generate a cross-cultural adaptation of the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) in the Latin-American Spanish language and to assess its psychometric properties.

Methods

This is a descriptive and prospective cross-sectional study. The Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) was translated and back-translated and then adapted to the Latin-American Spanish language (LASVHI-10). It was then applied to adult patients with clinical findings of dysphonia made by a physician. A psychometric validation consisting of a principal components exploratory factor analysis with varimax rotation, concurrent validation comparing the visual analog scale performed by the patient and two relevant questions of the Spanish version of the University of Washington Quality of Life (UWQOL) scale, known group validity assessment and test–retest reliability assessment was performed.

Results

A total of 119 patients were included. The mean score for the LASVHI-10 scale was 18.4 ± 10.7 (median 18, range 0–40). A principal component factor analysis showed a two-factor solution with good diagnostic test results. The Cronbach's alpha value for the global scale was .92. The comparison between the LASVHI-10 and the visual analog scale demonstrated a high correlation (rho = .82), and the coefficient for test–retest was .80.

Conclusion

The results of this study provide evidence of a reliable and objective instrument to be used in clinical practice and for research objectives in Spanish-speaking patients.