Validity of the Asthma Control Test completed at home.
OBJECTIVE
To provide additional validity data for the Asthma Control TestTM (ACT) using a different criterion measure, setting, and population.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Questionnaires were completed at home by a random sample of 570 members of a large integrated healthcare organization who were 35 years or older with utilization suggestive of active asthma. The questionnaires included the ACT; another validated asthma control questionnaire (Asthma Therapy Assessment Questionnaire [ATAQ]), which was used as the criterion measure; a validated quality-of-life tool (Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire [Mini-AQLQ]); a validated symptom frequency scale (Asthma Outcomes Monitoring System); and information regarding demographics.


RESULTS
The ACT score was statistically significantly correlated with findings on the ATAQ (P = -0.73), Mini-AQLQ (P = 0.77), and symptom frequency scale (P = -0.69). The optimal ACT cutoff for well-controlled asthma (ATAQ level, 0) was confirmed to be 20 or higher (sensitivity, 78.1%; specificity, 83.8%), and the optimal ACT cutoff for poorly controlled asthma (ATAQ level, 3-4) was confirmed to be 15 or lower (sensitivity, 90.4%; specificity, 80.9%).


CONCLUSIONS
These data further support the validity of the ACT in the home setting among a random sample of patients with asthma.
Schatz
Michael
M
Department of Allergy, Kaiser Permanente, San Diego, Calif, USA. michael.x.schatz@kp.org
Mosen
David M
DM
Kosinski
Mark
M
Vollmer
William M
WM
Magid
David J
DJ
O'Connor
Elizabeth
E
Zeiger
Robert S
RS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000523:psychology*; D003120:Colorado; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008329:Managed Care Programs; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires