Minimal clinically important difference for the Mandarin version of the Tinnitus Questionnaire determined via anchor-based and distribution-based methods

Table 2 The MCID of MTQ for tinnitus patients determined by the subjective criteria in anchor methods

Anchor Methods	Subjective Criteria	N	MCID (Mean/Median)
Improvement
Self-report change impression	Much better	24	22.75
ΔVAS	= 1	20	7.50
	> 1	51	32.25
Deterioration
Self-report change impression	Much worse	9	3.63
ΔVAS	= − 1	8	3.50
	< − 1	14	4.50
Change
Self-report change impression	Much better/much worse	33	19.00
ΔVAS	= ± 1	28	9.39
	> 1 or < − 1	65	25.50

MCID, minimal clinically important difference; ΔVAS, VAS change from baseline was determined by subtracting the value at visit from baseline value

ISSN: 1477-7525