Validation study demonstrates discriminative validity of a 20-item symptom questionnaire in benign thyroid disease, indicating utility for clinical screening.
Background This study aimed to modify and validate the Thyroidectomy Voice and Symptom Questionnaire (TVSQ) to serve as a symptom screening tool in benign thyroid disease. Methods A 32‐item modified TVSQ was developed and administered alongside a symptom checklist to outpatients; controls were recruited to determine discriminative validity. Reliability analysis guided item reduction, and principal components analysis (PCA) evaluated subscales. Results The 102 thyroid patients and 100 controls were recruited. Symptom prevalence was higher when using the questionnaire than the checklist (dyspnoea 58% vs. 24%; dysphonia 42% vs. 30%). Item reduction produced a 20‐item instrument termed the “Thyroid Symptom Questionnaire” (TSQ). PCA supported two subscales: “voice change” and “throat and neck discomfort”. The TSQ demonstrated excellent internal consistency and higher scores in thyroid patients ( p < 0.001). Conclusions The TSQ demonstrated feasibility and discriminative validity in the assessment of benign thyroid disease symptoms, extending the use of the TVSQ beyond its post‐surgical focus.
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Yogaraj et al. (2026) studied this question.
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