The Carcinologic Handicap Index: translation and cross-cultural adaptation to the Arabic language

Background Upper aerodigestive tract cancers significantly affect patients’ quality of life. The Carcinologic Handicap Index (CHI) is a self-report tool used to assess the functional and psychosocial impacts of head and neck cancers. Aim This research aims to assess the validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the CHI when used with Egyptian patients who have been diagnosed with head and neck cancer. Methods Seventy-nine Arabic-speaking patients in remission for over a year were recruited from ENT and oncology clinics at the University Hospitals. An additional control group of 79 healthy volunteers was included. The CHI questionnaire was translated into Arabic and pilot-tested for clarity. Participants completed the CHI twice within a 7- to 15-day interval. Statistical analyses involved the use of intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) to assess test–retest reliability, and Cronbach’s alpha to determine internal consistency. Results The results indicated a high level of test–retest reliability, as reflected by ICC values between 0.927 and 0.996. Additionally, the overall score showed outstanding internal consistency, as indicated by a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.998. Significant differences were observed between case and control groups across all domains of the CHI ( p < 0.001). Additionally, variations in scores were identified based on tumor site, particularly regarding psychosocial impacts. Conclusion The Arabic adaptation of the Carcinologic Handicap Index has proven to be a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating the quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer.