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. 2023 Aug;38(4):1200-1211.
doi: 10.1007/s00455-022-10545-y. Epub 2022 Dec 12.

Translation and Validation of the Dysphagia Handicap Index in Polish-Speaking Patients

Ewelina M Sielska-Badurek #  1   2 , Maria Sobol #  3 , Joanna Chmilewska-Walczak  4 , Barbara Jamróz  4 , Kazimierz Niemczyk  4
Affiliations

Translation and Validation of the Dysphagia Handicap Index in Polish-Speaking Patients

Ewelina M Sielska-Badurek et al. Dysphagia. 2023 Aug.

Abstract

Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI) is a self-assessment questionnaire which consists of 25 statements to examine three aspects of dysphagia patients' quality of life (QoL): functional, physical, and emotional. The patient can get a maximum score of 100 points. The study goal was to validate and translate the Polish version of the DHI (PL-DHI). One hundred and seventy-eight (178) individuals with oropharyngeal dysphagia with different etiology and 35 (thirty-five) asymptomatic adults with no history of swallowing disorders filled out the PL-DHI. Internal consistency was determined using Cronbach alpha coefficient, which was high for the total PL-DHI score (0.962). The reproducibility was high (r-Spearman correlation coefficient was 0.97 for total PL-DHI score). The PL-DHI's total score and its subscales were significantly higher in the dysphagia patients study group (SG) than in the healthy controls group (CG) (SG median: 36; CG median: 4). A strong correlation was observed between the PL-DHI score and the self-reported dysphagia severity measure (Spearman's correlation coefficient was 0.859, p < 0.001). The Polish DHI is a reliable and valid questionnaire for assessing dysphagia patients' QoL.

Keywords: DHI; Deglutition; Deglutition disorders; Dysphagia; Dysphagia Handicap Index; Oropharyngeal dysphagia; Quality of life.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ewelina M. Sielska-Badurek, Maria Sobol, Joanna Chmielewska-Walczak, Barbara Jamróz, and Kazimierz Niemczyk report no biomedical financial interests or potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The Polish version of the Dysphagia Handicap Index
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Bland–Altman plot–control and study groups
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Box plot for the control group, entire study group and for each subgroup with DHI results
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Box plot for each subgroup with PAS results
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
The percentage distribution of PAS scores for each subgroup of the SG group
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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