Reliability and Validation of the Turkish Version of the Pediatric Voice-Related Quality of Life Survey

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of dysphonia in children, several methods have been developed, including the Pediatric Voice Outcome Survey, the Pediatric Voice Handicap Index, and the Pediatric Voice-Related Quality of Life (PVRQOL) Survey. The aim of this study was to analyze the validity of the Turkish version of the PVRQOL Survey. The PVRQOL Survey consists of 10 questions that evaluate the effects of dysphonia on quality of life. We translated it into Turkish by working with two translators and faculty from the English Grammar and Literature Department. The Turkish version was translated back into English by two bilingual individuals to assess accuracy. The final version was tested by 15 parents for pilot study. Following the pilot study, we enrolled 52 children who had been admitted to the outpatient clinic with dysphonia and 79 children who had no voice complaints. The parents of the children under 7 years were asked to answer the survey. Children aged between 7 and 9 years completed the survey with their parents, and children over 9 years completed the survey by themselves. The results of the pilot study revealed no difference between the two groups. Intergroup comparisons revealed that there were statistically significant differences between the control and patient groups in terms of question responses. When the total scores of the two groups were compared, there was a significant difference. The Turkish version is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing dysphonic patients and healthy subjects.