Non-voice-related throat symptoms: comparative analysis of laryngopharyngeal reflux and globus pharyngeus scales.
BACKGROUND
This study calculated the comparability of two throat symptom assessment scales devised to evaluate either laryngopharyngeal reflux or globus.


METHODS
United Kingdom hospital out-patient departments.


METHODS
A total of 334 subjects, with and without throat symptoms, completed the Reflux Symptom Index and/or the Glasgow and Edinburgh Throat Scale. The following were calculated for the resultant data: Cronbach's α coefficient, principal component analysis, Kaiser normalisation, varimax and oblimin rotation, and eigenvalues.


RESULTS
Analysis of data from the Reflux Symptom Index and the Glasgow and Edinburgh Throat Scale revealed clearly similar symptom domains regarding (1) coughing and blockage, and (2) globus or postnasal drip or throat-clearing, as did combined analysis of their amalgamated items. Both instruments had good overall internal consistency (α = 0.75 and 0.81, respectively). The 'heartburn or reflux' item in the Reflux Symptom Index mapped poorly to each underlying factor.


CONCLUSIONS
The most commonly used laryngopharyngeal reflux and globus assessment questionnaires appear to detect very similar symptom clusters. The management of throat disorders may previously have been over-reliant on the presenting pattern of throat symptoms. Our findings indicate a need to revisit the traditional clinical classification of throat symptoms.
Cathcart
R A
RA
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. r.cathcart@nhs.net
Steen
N
N
Natesh
B G
BG
Ali
K H
KH
Wilson
J A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D057045:Laryngopharyngeal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult