Tinnitus Questionnaires for Research and Clinical Use
The lack of an objective measure of tinnitus has led to self-report questionnaires as the best option to evaluate tinnitus symptoms and quantify the degree to which quality of life is negatively impacted. There are many tinnitus questionnaires to choose f
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Contents 1 Introduction 1.1 Characteristics of Questionnaires 1.2 Item Wording and Measurement Scales 2 Psychometric Properties 3 Assessment 3.1 Tinnitus Case History 3.2 Performing a Needs Assessment 3.3 Screening Tools and Outcome Measures 3.4 Permission for Use 4 Summary References
Abstract The lack of an objective measure of tinnitus has led to self-report questionnaires as the best option to evaluate tinnitus symptoms and quantify the degree to which quality of life is negatively impacted. There are many tinnitus questionnaires to choose from and it can be difficult to decide which one is best. From an evidencebased perspective, knowing how the questionnaire is designed, including its intended purpose, can help determine if it is appropriate or not to use. For example, a questionnaire designed to screen for the presence or absence of tinnitus should not be used as an outcome measure to answer questions about treatment effectiveness. Often, using more than one questionnaire is preferable to relying on just one. This chapter will review important factors to consider when selecting a questionnaire for research purposes and/or routine clinical care.
S. M. Theodoroff (*) Veterans Affairs (VA) RR&D National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR), VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, USA Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA e-mail: [email protected] © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020 Curr Topics Behav Neurosci https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2020_175
S. M. Theodoroff
Keywords Evidence-based practice · Needs assessment · Surveys and questionnaires · Tinnitus
1 Introduction 1.1
Characteristics of Questionnaires
In his chapter “Psychometrics in Clinical Settings,” Dr. Hamilton Fairfax, a counseling psychologist, addresses two main principles underlying psychometric testing: “One principal use of psychometrics clinically is to establish if a particular diagnosis, problem or attribute is present in an individual at a given time. The second main aim [principle] is to establish to what degree the person has the quality being tested.” (Fairfax 2017). The first principle, applied to the focus of this chapter, translates to diagnosing the presence or absence of tinnitus, including subtypes, and the second principle addresses establishing the degree of tinnitus-related distress. These principles highlight the rationale for why questionnaires are used in research and clinical practice. Specifically, questionnaires are measurement tools that can ascertain if tinnitus is present and if so, quantify its effects. Because of the reliance on questionnaires, it is essential to use valid and reliable ones so that researchers and clinicians have confidence in applying the results to answer scientific questions and help patients make informed decisions as to the best course of action.
1.2
Item Wording and Measurement Scales
How a questionnaire’s items and instructions are worded influences a patient’s response, as does the number and o
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