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

Table 6 MCID for the MTQ, derived by various approaches

Subjective criteria	Anchor-based		Distribution-based			MCID
Subjective criteria	Mean/Median	ROC	0.5ES	1.96SEM	1.96RCI	Min	Average	Max
Improvement
Self-report change impression	22.75	14.5	8.21	8.52	12.04	8.21	15.48	22.75
ΔVAS	7.50	− 3.5	1.09	1.13	1.60	1.09	4.29	7.50
Deterioration
Self-report change impression	3.63	13.5	7.64	7.93	11.21	3.63	5.63	7.64
ΔVAS	3.50	6.5	7.64	7.93	11.21	3.50	5.57	7.64
Total change
Self-report change impression	19.00		8.07	8.37	11.83	8.07	13.53	19.00
ΔVAS	9.39		6.29	6.53	9.23	6.29	7.84	9.39

MCID, minimal clinically important difference; ROC, receiver operating characteristic; ES, effect size; SEM, standard error of measurement; RCI, reliability change index

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