Publication
Title
Tinnitus handicap inventory for evaluating treatment effects : which canges are clinically relevant?
Author
Abstract
Objective. To determine the minimum change of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) score that could be considered clinically relevant, the authors compared the absolute change of the THI with the Clinical Global ImpressionImprovement (CGI-I) score. Study Design. International studies register with standardized data collection. Setting. Tinnitus Research Initiative (TRI). Subjects and Methods. Two hundred ten patients of the TRI database were eligible for this study. In the first analysis, the THI score change and CGI-I ratings were compared with equipercentile linking. In a second analysis, the authors categorized the CGI-I into the 4 groups much better or better, minimally better, no change, and worse and calculated the corresponding differences of the THI score and the effect sizes. An effect size separating the minimally better and the no-change groups was chosen, and the referring THI mean score difference was calculated. Results. According to the linking method, a CGI-I value of 3 (minimally better) corresponded to a THI score reduction of 6 to 16, whereas the CGI-I value of 4 (no change) corresponded to the range between improvement by 5 points and worsening by 4 points. For separating the no-change and minimally better groups, an effect size d = 0.5 was determined, resulting in a minimal clinically relevant difference of ΔTHI = 7. Conclusion. Two different methods yielded comparable results in identifying a reduction in the THI score of 6 and 7 points, respectively, as the minimal clinically relevant change. This study provides a first orientation for sample size calculations and for planning the design of future studies.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Otolaryngology, head and neck surgery. - Saint Louis, Ill.
Publication
Saint Louis, Ill. : 2011
ISSN
0194-5998
DOI
10.1177/0194599811403882
Volume/pages
145 :2 (2011) , p. 282-287
ISI
000294071200019
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 28.11.2011
Last edited 15.11.2022
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