PMID- 25569880 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20151026 LR - 20240518 IS - 2055-1010 (Electronic) IS - 2055-1010 (Linking) VI - 25 DP - 2015 Jan 8 TI - The minimal clinically important difference of the Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT): cross-cultural validation and relation with pollen counts. PG - 14107 LID - 10.1038/npjpcrm.2014.107 [doi] AB - BACKGROUND: The Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT) monitors control of asthma and allergic rhinitis. AIMS: To determine the CARAT's minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Dutch CARAT. METHODS: CARAT was applied in three measurements at 1-month intervals. Patients diagnosed with asthma and/or rhinitis were approached. MCID was evaluated using Global Rating of Change (GRC) and standard error of measurement (s.e.m.). Cronbach's alpha was used to evaluate internal consistency. Spearman's correlation coefficients were calculated between CARAT, the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ5) and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) on airway symptoms to determine construct and longitudinal validity. Test-retest reliability was evaluated with intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Changes in pollen counts were compared with delta CARAT and ACQ5 scores. RESULTS: A total of 92 patients were included. The MCID of the CARAT was 3.50 based on GRC scores; the s.e.m. was 2.83. Cronbach's alpha was 0.82. Correlation coefficients between CARAT and ACQ5 and VAS questions ranged from 0.64 to 0.76 (P < 0.01). Longitudinally, correlation coefficients between delta CARAT scores and delta ACQ5 and VAS scores ranged from 0.41 to 0.67 (P < 0.01). Test-retest reliability showed an ICC of 0.81 (P < 0.01) and 0.80 (P < 0.01). Correlations with pollen counts were higher for CARAT than for ACQ5. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first investigation of the MCID of the CARAT. The CARAT uses a whole-point scale, which suggests that the MCID is 4 points. The CARAT is a valid and reliable tool that is also applicable in the Dutch population. FAU - van der Leeuw, Sander AU - van der Leeuw S AD - 1] Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands [2] GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. FAU - van der Molen, Thys AU - van der Molen T AD - 1] Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands [2] GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. FAU - Dekhuijzen, P N Richard AU - Dekhuijzen PN AD - Department of Pulmonology, University Medical Center St Radboud, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. FAU - Fonseca, Joao A AU - Fonseca JA AD - Department of Health Information and Decision Sciences, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal. FAU - van Gemert, Frederik A AU - van Gemert FA AD - 1] Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands [2] GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. FAU - Gerth van Wijk, Roy AU - Gerth van Wijk R AD - Department of Internal Medicine-Allergology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. FAU - Kocks, Janwillem W H AU - Kocks JW AD - 1] Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands [2] GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. FAU - Oosterom, Helma AU - Oosterom H AD - 1] Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands [2] GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. FAU - Riemersma, Roland A AU - Riemersma RA AD - 1] Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands [2] GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. FAU - Tsiligianni, Ioanna G AU - Tsiligianni IG AD - 1] Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands [2] GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. FAU - de Weger, Letty A AU - de Weger LA AD - Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. FAU - Oude Elberink, Joanne N G AU - Oude Elberink JN AD - 1] GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands [2] Department of Allergology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. FAU - Flokstra-de Blok, Bertine M J AU - Flokstra-de Blok BM AD - 1] Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands [2] GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. LA - eng PT - Journal Article PT - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't DEP - 20150108 PL - England TA - NPJ Prim Care Respir Med JT - NPJ primary care respiratory medicine JID - 101631999 SB - IM MH - Adolescent MH - Adult MH - Aged MH - Asthma/*prevention & control MH - Cross-Cultural Comparison MH - Female MH - Humans MH - Male MH - Middle Aged MH - Primary Health Care MH - Reproducibility of Results MH - Rhinitis, Allergic/*prevention & control MH - Surveys and Questionnaires MH - Young Adult PMC - PMC4532148 EDAT- 2015/01/09 06:00 MHDA- 2015/10/27 06:00 PMCR- 2015/01/08 CRDT- 2015/01/09 06:00 PHST- 2014/03/28 00:00 [received] PHST- 2014/09/03 00:00 [revised] PHST- 2014/09/15 00:00 [accepted] PHST- 2015/01/09 06:00 [entrez] PHST- 2015/01/09 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2015/10/27 06:00 [medline] PHST- 2015/01/08 00:00 [pmc-release] AID - npjpcrm2014107 [pii] AID - 10.1038/npjpcrm.2014.107 [doi] PST - epublish SO - NPJ Prim Care Respir Med. 2015 Jan 8;25:14107. doi: 10.1038/npjpcrm.2014.107.