Validation in Brazil of self-assessment protocols for dysphonia impact.

BACKGROUND A patient's self-assessment of his/hers vocal problem and the analysis of the results of a treatment are means used to verify the effectiveness of an intervention and to develop directive procedures for clinical health practice. Psychometric instruments are the most common tools used to perform this task. Validation of self-assessment instruments may be carried out in several ways; however there should be clear and structured criteria involved in this process. AIM To present the validation process of three voice self-assessment instruments for the Brazilian Portuguese language: Voice-Related Quality of Life--V-RQOL, Voice Handicap Index--VHI and, Voice Activity and Participation Profile--VAPP. These instruments received respectively the following names: Qualidade de Vida em Voz - QVV, Indice de Desvantagem Vocal--IDV and Perfil de Participação e Atividades Vocais--PPAV, emphasizing their specificities and the necessary adaptations for their use in Brazil. METHOD The three questionnaires were validated following the guidelines suggested by the Scientific Advisory Committee of Medical Outcomes Trust--SAC. RESULTS The psychometric measures of validity, reliability, reproducibility and sensitiveness were statistically demonstrated for each instrument. CONCLUSIONS The Brazilian versions of the V-RQOL, VHI and VAPP demonstrated to be valid, reliable and sensitive instruments that specifically assess patients who present voice problems. These instruments can be used in the assessment of the life quality related to voice, as well as for the analysis of treatment outcomes.