Validation and reliability testing of the Persian translation of the Vertigo Handicap Questionnaire
Abstract
Background: The Vertigo Handicap Questionnaire (VHQ) is a well-established instrument for assessing the physical and psychosocial impact of vertigo. To facilitate its use in Persian-speaking populations, this study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Persian version of the VHQ. Materials and Methods: The VHQ was culturally adapted into Persian using forward–backward translation, expert review, and cognitive interviews. Psychometric evaluation included 470 patients and 101 controls. Validity assessed face, content, construct (exploratory factor analysis then confirmatory factor analysis [CFA] with path diagram), discriminant (t-test/analysis of covariance/receiver operating characteristic), and convergent (correlation with Dizziness Handicap Inventory [DHI]) validity. Reliability was measured by internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha/omega) and test–retest (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC (3,1)] over 1 week; n = 128). Results: The Persian Version of the VHQ (VHQ-P) showed a four-factor structure (restriction of activity, social anxiety, fear of vertigo, and severity of vertigo). CFA confirmed good model fit (χ2/df = 2.85, comparative fit index = 0.95, root mean square error of approximation = 0.063) with standardized factor loadings ranging from 0.65 to 0.95 (P < 0.001). Discriminant validity was excellent (AUC = 0.99; cutoff = 19.5; sensitivity = 97%, specificity = 100%). Convergent validity was supported by strong correlations with DHI subscales (ρ = 0.88–0.90). Test–retest reliability was excellent (ICC [3,1] = 0.98), and internal consistency was outstanding (Cronbach’s α = 0.985; subscales: 0.898–0.972). Conclusion: The Persian version of the VHQ is a valid and reliable tool for clinical use. The efficacy of medical or surgical treatment of vertigo can be assessed using VHQ-P. The VHQ-P appears to be an appropriate tool for evaluating patients’ perceived handicaps and advantages after rehabilitation interventions.
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BibTeX
@article{reyhani2026validation,
title = {{Validation and reliability testing of the Persian translation of the Vertigo Handicap Questionnaire}},
author = {Yousef Reyhani and Mansoureh Adel Ghahraman and Mir Mohammad Jalali and Shadman Nemati and Shohreh Jalaie},
journal = {Journal of Research in Medical Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.4103/jrms.jrms_743_25},
url = {https://doi.org/10.4103/jrms.jrms_743_25},
note = {CC BY-NC-SA},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Validation and reliability testing of the Persian translation of the Vertigo Handicap Questionnaire
AU - Yousef Reyhani
AU - Mansoureh Adel Ghahraman
AU - Mir Mohammad Jalali
AU - Shadman Nemati
AU - Shohreh Jalaie
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
DO - 10.4103/jrms.jrms_743_25
UR - https://doi.org/10.4103/jrms.jrms_743_25
AB - Background: The Vertigo Handicap Questionnaire (VHQ) is a well-established instrument for assessing the physical and psychosocial impact of vertigo. To facilitate its use in Persian-speaking populations, this study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Persian version of the VHQ. Materials and Methods: The VHQ was culturally adapted into Persian using forward–backward translation, expert review, and cognitive interviews. Psychometric evaluation included 470 patients and 101 controls. Validity assessed face, content, construct (exploratory factor analysis then confirmatory factor analysis [CFA] with path diagram), discriminant (t-test/analysis of covariance/receiver operating characteristic), and convergent (correlation with Dizziness Handicap Inventory [DHI]) validity. Reliability was measured by internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha/omega) and test–retest (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC (3,1)] over 1 week; n = 128). Results: The Persian Version of the VHQ (VHQ-P) showed a four-factor structure (restriction of activity, social anxiety, fear of vertigo, and severity of vertigo). CFA confirmed good model fit (χ2/df = 2.85, comparative fit index = 0.95, root mean square error of approximation = 0.063) with standardized factor loadings ranging from 0.65 to 0.95 (P < 0.001). Discriminant validity was excellent (AUC = 0.99; cutoff = 19.5; sensitivity = 97%, specificity = 100%). Convergent validity was supported by strong correlations with DHI subscales (ρ = 0.88–0.90). Test–retest reliability was excellent (ICC [3,1] = 0.98), and internal consistency was outstanding (Cronbach’s α = 0.985; subscales: 0.898–0.972). Conclusion: The Persian version of the VHQ is a valid and reliable tool for clinical use. The efficacy of medical or surgical treatment of vertigo can be assessed using VHQ-P. The VHQ-P appears to be an appropriate tool for evaluating patients’ perceived handicaps and advantages after rehabilitation interventions.
SN - 1735-1995
SN - 1735-7136
ER -