Validity and Reliability Assessment of Korean Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6)

Background: Quality-of-life measurement represents an important tool for evaluating the management and impact of headache on individuals and society. The Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) is a simple instrument developed to assess headache-related disability in Western countries. The objective of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of the Korean HIT-6. Methods: Participants were recruited from patients who visited the Neurology Clinic of Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital due to headache. The survey included the SF-36 a nd HIT-6. Headache diagnosis was assigned using ICHD-II after completing a semistructured diagnostic interview. Results: A total of 43 patients were recruited, who were aged 35.2±13.6 years (mean±SD). Thirty-three and three were diagnosed as having migraine and probable migraine, respectively. Eight and two were diagnosed with tension-type and probable tension-type headache, respectively. There was a negative correlation between the total SF-36 and HIT-6 scores (Spearman’s correlation coefficient=-0.64, p<0.01). Similar significant negative correlations were also observed between SF-36 physical health summary and HIT-6 scores (Spearman’s correlation coefficient=-0.54, p <0.01), and between SF-36 mental summary and HIT-6 scores (Spearman’s correlation coefficient=-0.60, p<0.01). The Cronbach’s alpha of HIT-6 was 0.85. Conclusions: The Korean HIT-6 is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing headache-related quality of life.