TRANSLATION, CULTURAL ADAPTATION, RELIABILITY, AND VALIDITY OF THE TURKISH VERSION OF THE HEADACHE IMPACT QUESTIONNAIRE

Objective: To prove the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Headache Impact Questionnaire (HImQ) for evaluating individuals with headaches. Method: 102 individuals (31.12±12.39 years) with headaches participated in the study. Test-retest and internal consistency analyses were used to assess the reliability of the HImQ, and Exploratory (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and correlation analysis was used to determine its validity. For correlation analysis, the total scores of the HImQ, Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), and Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) were calculated. Results: The Turkish version of the HImQ demonstrated high reliability with an Intraclass Correlation Coefficient of 0.846 and a Cronbach’s α of 0.769. Structural validity through EFA indicated a three-factor structure, supported by KMO (0.759) and Bartlett’s sphericity test values (780.133; p<0.001). CFA confirmed this structure with good fit indices. Convergent validity was supported by good correlations between the HImQ and HIT-6 (r=0.429; p=0.000), and MIDAS (r=0.487; p=0.000). No floor or ceiling effects were detected. Conclusion: This study established the Turkish HImQ as a reliable and valid measure for evaluating the impact of headaches on daily functioning. With strong internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and supported validity, the scale proved effective for clinical and research use in the Turkish-speaking people. It provides a solid framework for assessing headache-related disability in daily life.