Validation of the Spanish Version of the Voice-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire: Psychometric Properties and Clinical Applications

Introduction: The present study aimed to validate the Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL), vocal self-assessment questionnaire for Spanish. Methods: The validation and psychometric properties were developed according to the criteria of the Scientific Advisory Committee of Medical Outcomes Trust (SAC). The Spanish translation for linguistic and cultural adaptation of the V-RQOL was used. The study involved 193 participants, including 90 vocally healthy individuals and 103 patients with voice disorders, to establish validity. To evaluate reliability, the protocol was applied to 40 participants with dysphonia, who answered it twice before the treatment. Then to determine response changes, the responses of 13 dysphonic participants to the V-RQOL for Spanish were analyzed after intervention and then compared to the initial ones. Clinicians contrasted subjects' V-RQOL results with a perceptual analysis of voice quality using the GRBAS scale. In order to determine sensitivity and specificity cut-off values, tools results were subjected to the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The sensitivity was obtained from the experimental group (dysphonic group) and the specificity from the control group (non-dysphonic group). Results: This version of the V-RQOL questionnaire may be used as part of the standard assessment process of people with voice complaints and as an outcome of treatment efficacy in clinical trials. Conclusion: A validation of the V-RQOL for Spanish in Chilean population was achieved.