Editor's note:

In response to the Belt and Road Initiative, and with the aim of sharing expertise and addressing shared health challenges, our hospital has launched the Overseas Promotion Program for New Medical Technologies. If you are interested in any of the medical technologies covered under this program, please feel free to contact the International Cooperation Office at faowch@163.com.

Introduction of West China Tinnitus Impact Inventory (WCTII)

1.Technology Overview

The West China Tinnitus Impact Inventory (WCTII) is designed to assess the severity of tinnitus and the efficacy of tinnitus treatment. It consists of 19 items across 4 dimensions, specifically: F1: the impact of tinnitus on emotion (items 1–9); F2: the impact of tinnitus on sleep (items 10–12); F3: patients’ beliefs about their tinnitus (items 13–16, 19); and F4: the impact of tinnitus on auditory processing ability (items 17–18). The overall Cronbach’s α coefficient is 0.934 (with Cronbach’s α coefficients of 0.829–0.912 for each dimension), and the test-retest reliability is 0.779 (ICC = 0.779). The WCTII demonstrates satisfactory reliability and validity, with a significant correlation between its total score and that of the Chinese version of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI-CM) (r=0.849, p<0.001). The total score ranges up to 76 points, with higher scores indicating more severe tinnitus.

2.Clinical Application Effects & Innovations

Independently developed by West China Hospital, the WCTII is China’s first scientific and rigorous inventory for tinnitus assessment, published in a top audiology journal. For the first time, the Delphi method was adopted in its development, ensuring excellent reliability and validity. It accurately reflects the multidimensional impacts and severity of tinnitus in Chinese patients, providing objective evidence for clinical decision-making, precise management, and personalized treatment. With simple and easy-to-understand items and time-efficient operation, patients can usually complete the inventory within 5–10 minutes.

3.Promotion Value

Tinnitus assessment inventories are regarded as the gold standard for evaluating tinnitus severity and treatment efficacy. Developed based on Chinese cultural contexts, the WCTII is particularly suitable for "Belt and Road" countries with similar cultural backgrounds. Tinnitus is a prevalent symptom across "Belt and Road" nations—for instance, regions such as Southeast Asia and Africa have a high prevalence of otitis media, which is associated with a correspondingly high incidence of tinnitus. Therefore, the application of the WCTII enables more accurate assessment of tinnitus severity and objective evaluation of treatment outcomes in these regions.