Evaluation of a new method for assessing symptoms.
BACKGROUND
Many studies in rhinology are based on results from symptom scoring. Numerous methods are used to estimate symptoms. With some of them the patients choose between various alternatives for estimating the severity of their symptoms, but the commonest method is the visual analogue scale (VAS), which is regarded as reliable.


METHODS
In this study, we evaluate a new method for assessing symptoms, with which the patient uses the telephone to call a computer. We compare the results using the new method with those using symptoms estimation with VAS.


RESULTS
The results are based on 487 observations in patients with birch pollen allergic rhinitis in the pollen season. A high correlation was found between the results using the new method and those using the VAS. In a questionnaire, the patients answered questions concerning the two methods. Most patients preferred the new telephone method. They found it easier to estimate their symptoms properly and easier to perform.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that telephone scoring of symptoms is a reliable and adequate method when symptom scoring is used as hard data in a study.
ENT Department, Soder Hospital/Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
H
H
Hallén
P
P
Djupesland
J
J
Kramer
K
K
Toll
P
P
Graf
D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010147:Pain Measurement; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires