Turkish validity and reliability study of the benign paroxysmal positional vertigo diagnostic scale

Abstract

Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the Turkish validity and reliability of the benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) diagnostic scale. Patients and Methods: One hundred seventeen patients (67 females, 50 males; mean age: 49.3±12.3 years; range 18 to 74 years) over the age of 18 who were diagnosed or suspected of BPPV, Meniere's disease, vestibular neuritis, or other peripheral vestibular disease were included. Participants filled out the BPPV diagnostic scale. The affected canal and the ear side were determined by performing positional maneuvers to confirm the diagnosis of BPPV. The final version of the scale was created by performing language and content validity, construct validity, reliability, and test-retest analyses of the BPPV diagnostic scale in the given order. Results: Of the 117 patients, 70 were diagnosed with BPPV, 26 with Meniere’s disease, 16 with vestibular neuritis, and five participants with other peripheral vestibular disease. Kendal W for content validity was 0.060 (p=0.700>0.05), and expert opinions showed good agreement. The factor load of the BPPV diagnostic scale was found within the normal range (0.364 to 0.807). Goodness of fit index values were obtained above 0.90. According to this result, the model fit well. The internal consistency Cronbach's alpha (a) coefficient of the scale was 0.716. This value showed that the scale had good reliability. According to the results of the scale, a statistically significant difference was found between the responses of the BPPV group and the other diagnostic groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: The Turkish version of the BPPV diagnostic scale was found to be valid and reliable. This scale is useful in detecting BPPV and establishing the differential diagnosis. The use of the scale is thought to be beneficial in patients with suspected BPPV but who have difficulties in diagnosis and to support objective tests.