Translation and preliminary evaluation of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Transgender Voice Questionnaire for male-to-female transsexuals

Abstract

PURPOSE: To contribute to the development of a Brazilian Portuguese language version of the vocal self-assessment questionnaire, Transsexual Voice Questionnaire: Male-to-Female (TVQ:MtF), and to evaluate the questionnaire for use in Brazil.METHODS: The research was divided into two parts: (1) translation and adaptation of the questionnaire (TVQ:MtF) and demographic form and (2) preliminary study of the psychometric properties (internal consistency and test-retest reliability) of the adapted version of the questionnaire. For the translation and adaptation, the following steps were taken: translation, reconciliation, back-translation, harmonization, and pilot test. The TVQ:MtF questionnaire and the demographic form were applied to 13 male-to-female transsexuals, aged between 21 and 47 years. The participants agreed to answer the TVQ:MtF on two occasions (test and retest), with an optimal interval of 30 days.RESULTS: Two psychometric properties were investigated: internal consistency and test-retest reliability. High levels of internal consistency (in both test (α=0.911) and retest (α=0.952) conditions) and reliability (with an average ICC=0.957 (95%CI 0.916-0.984)), were found.CONCLUSION: The TVQ:MtF is an appropriate instrument for vocal self-assessment of male-to-female transsexual patients, which can be recommended for clinical and research goals.

Keywords

• Transsexualism
• Voice
• Self-assessment
• Translating
• Transgendered persons