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Validation of an asthma questionnaire for use in healthcare workers
  1. G L Delclos1,
  2. A A Arif2,
  3. L Aday1,
  4. A Carson1,
  5. D Lai1,
  6. C Lusk1,
  7. T Stock1,
  8. E Symanski1,
  9. L W Whitehead1,
  10. F G Benavides3,
  11. J M Antó4
  1. 1The University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, Texas, USA
  2. 2Department of Family and Community Medicine, Division of Health Services Research, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA
  3. 3Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
  4. 4Municipal Institut of Medical Research (IMIM-IMAS), Barcelona, Spain
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr G L Delclos
 The University of Texas–Houston, School of Public Health, 1200 Herman Pressler St, Suite RAS W1018, Houston, TX-77030, USA; George.Delclos{at}uth.tmc.edu

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have described increased occurrence of asthma among healthcare workers, but to our knowledge there are no validated survey questionnaires with which to study this occupational group.

Aims: To develop, validate, and refine a new survey instrument on asthma for use in epidemiological studies of healthcare workers.

Methods: An initial draft questionnaire, designed by a multidisciplinary team, used previously validated questions where possible; the occupational exposure section was developed by updating health services specific chemical lists through hospital walk-through surveys and review of material safety data sheets. A cross-sectional validation study was conducted in 118 non-smoking subjects, who also underwent bronchial challenge testing, an interview with an industrial hygienist, and measurement of specific IgE antibodies to common aeroallergens.

Results: The final version consisted of 43 main questions in four sections. Time to completion of the questionnaire ranged from 13 to 25 minutes. Test–retest reliability of asthma and allergy items ranged from 75% to 94%, and internal consistency for these items was excellent (Cronbach’s α ⩾ 0.86). Against methacholine challenge, an eight item combination of asthma related symptoms had a sensitivity of 71% and specificity of 70%; against a physician diagnosis of asthma, this same combination showed a sensitivity of 79% and specificity of 98%. Agreement between self-reported exposures and industrial hygienist review was similar to previous studies and only moderate, indicating the need to incorporate more reliable methods of exposure assessment. Against the aerollergen panel, the best combinations of sensitivity and specificity were obtained for a history of allergies to dust, dust mite, and animals.

Conclusions: Initial evaluation of this new questionnaire indicates good validity and reliability, and further field testing and cross-validation in a larger healthcare worker population is in progress. The need for development of more reliable occupational exposure assessment methods that go beyond self-report is underscored.

  • DFP, discriminant function predictor
  • HCW, healthcare worker
  • MD asthma, physician diagnosis of asthma
  • asthma
  • questionnaire validation
  • healthcare workers

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Footnotes

  • Funding: Supported in part by Grant Nos 5R01OH03945-01A1 and T42CCT610417 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The funding agency had no involvement in the study design, data collection, data analysis, interpretation of data, writing of the paper, and/or in the decision to submit the paper for publication.

  • Competing interests: none

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