Validation of an electronic version of the Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire

Olajos-Clow, J.; Minard, J.; Szpiro, K.; Juniper, E.F.; Turcotte, S.; Jiang, X.; Jenkins, B.; Lougheed, M.D.

doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2009.11.017

« Previous Next »Respiratory Medicine
Volume 104, Issue 5 , Pages 658-667, May 2010

Validation of an electronic version of the Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire

J. Olajos-Clow
- Clinical Research Centre, Kingston General Hospital, 76 Stuart Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 2V7
- Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
- Corresponding author. Asthma Research Unit, Clinical Research Centre, Kingston General Hospital, 76 Stuart Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 2V7. Tel.: +1 613 549 6666; fax: +1 613 548 7803.
J. Minard
- Clinical Research Centre, Kingston General Hospital, 76 Stuart Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 2V7
K. Szpiro
- Clinical Research Centre, Kingston General Hospital, 76 Stuart Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 2V7
E.F. Juniper
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8N 3Z5
S. Turcotte
- Clinical Research Centre, Kingston General Hospital, 76 Stuart Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 2V7
X. Jiang
- Clinical Research Centre, Kingston General Hospital, 76 Stuart Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 2V7
B. Jenkins
- Cissec Corporation, 516 O'Connor Drive, Suite 201, Kingston, ON, Canada K7P 1N3
M.D. Lougheed
- Clinical Research Centre, Kingston General Hospital, 76 Stuart Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 2V7
- Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada

Received 19 July 2009; accepted 23 November 2009. published online 12 March 2010.

Summary

Background

The Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (MiniAQLQ) is a validated disease-specific quality of life (QOL) paper (p) questionnaire. Electronic (e) versions enable inclusion of asthma QOL in electronic medical records and research databases.

Purpose

To validate an e-version of the MiniAQLQ, compare time required for completion of e- and p-versions, and determine which version participants prefer.

Methods

Adults with stable asthma were randomized to complete either the e- or p-MiniAQLQ, followed by a 2-h rest period before completing the other version. Agreement between versions was measured using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland–Altman analysis.

Results

Two participants with incomplete p-MiniAQLQ responses were excluded. Forty participants (85% female; age 47.7 ± 14.9 years; asthma duration 22.6 ± 16.1 years; FEV₁ 87.1 ± 21.6% predicted) with both AQLQ scores <6.0 completed the study. Agreement between e- and p-versions for the overall score was acceptable (ICC=0.95) with no bias (difference (Δ) p–e=0.1; P=0.21). ICCs for the symptom, activity limitation, emotional function and environmental stimuli domains were 0.94, 0.89, 0.90, and 0.91 respectively. A small but significant bias (Δ=0.3; P=0.004) was noted in the activity limitation domain. Completion time was significantly longer for the e-version (3.8 ± 1.9min versus 2.7 ± 1.1min; P<0.0001). The majority of patients (57.5%) preferred the e-MiniAQLQ; 35% had no preference.

Conclusion

This e-version of the MiniAQLQ is valid and was preferred by most participants despite taking slightly longer to complete. Generalizabilty may be limited in younger (12–17) and older (>65) adults.

Keywords: Asthma, Quality of life, Validation, Electronic medical record