title: Validation of the Reflux, Airway and Sleep Questionnaire (RASQ).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Airway symptoms and sleeplessness in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may be of importance. This study validates a new questionnaire dealing with such symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Reflux, Airway and Sleep Questionnaire (RASQ) is self-administered, asks about 18 symptoms or diagnoses possibly related to GERD answered on a seven-point Likert scale and with a 1-year recall period. There are questions about heartburn/regurgitation, sleeplessness, snoring, pneumonia, and upper airway infections, as well as various bronchial and laryngeal symptoms. The study included 305 patients diagnosed with GERD (n = 65), laryngitis (n = 32), asthma (n = 30), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (n = 45), acute bronchitis (n = 39), pneumonia (n = 42), or upper airway infection (n = 52) during the last year, and 708 matched healthy controls. Concurrent validity was based on comparisons between patients and controls. Convergent validity for sleeplessness and snoring were tested by comparing the RASQ with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Test-retest reliability was examined in patients with GERD with stable symptoms (n = 29).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response rates were 64% for patients and 55% for controls. Scores for RASQ as a total and all subscales were significantly higher in patients than in controls. Sleeplessness scores correlated significantly to the global PSQI score. Snoring correlated significantly with both the ESS and relevant aspects of the PSQI. Test-retest reliability and Cronbach's alpha were satisfactory, with coefficients ranging between 0.65-0.95 and 0.88-0.92, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The RASQ appears to be well suited for measuring typical reflux symptoms as well as airway symptoms and sleep disturbances.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Unit for Gastroenterology, Trondheim, Norway. rune.trondheim@gmail.com
authors.forename: Rune
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Johannessen
authors.forename: Hermod
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sue-Chu
authors.forename: Anne Kristin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Aasebøstøl
authors.forename: Ingard
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Løge
authors.forename: Per Martin
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Kleveland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D012913:Snoring / Q000175:diagnosis; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires