Psychometric evaluation of the Brazilian version of the pediatric asthma control and communication instrument

Pediatric Asthma Therapy Assessment Questionnaire for the Brazilian population: Cross-cultural adaptation and measurement properties

OBJECTIVE

To cross-culturally adapt the Pediatric Asthma Therapy Assessment Questionnaire (ATAQ) into Brazilian Portuguese and analyze its measurement properties.

METHODS

This exploratory methodological study included eight experts and 30 caregivers in the translation and cross-cultural adaptation steps. Thereafter, 118 caregivers of pediatric patients with asthma aged between 5 and 17 years were involved in the analysis of measurement properties. We analyzed the content, structural (exploratory and confirmatory factorial), construct (convergent and discriminant), and known-groups validities; floor and ceiling effects; and determined the cut-off point (receiver operator characteristic curve) to identify pediatric patients with uncontrolled asthma. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analyzed test-retest reliability with 54 caregivers, whereas Cronbach's α and composite reliability verified the internal consistency of the items.

RESULTS

The committee of experts and caregivers found the instructions and response options relevant, understandable, and clear (K > 0.75). During the cross-cultural adaptation, three items (2, 4, and 12) were slightly modified by including terms to facilitate understanding. A two-factor structure (asthma control and patient-provider communication) was identified. Internal consistency (α > .67; composite reliability > 0.73) and test-retest reliability (ICC > 0.80) were acceptable. For construct and know-groups validities, 85.71% of the hypothesis were confirmed. A cut-off point of >3 for the control domain was considered adequate to identify pediatric patients with uncontrolled asthma (sensitivity: 86.21%; specificity: 80.90%).

CONCLUSION

The Pediatric ATAQ was adequately adapted for Brazilian pediatric patients with asthma and produced valid and reliable measures for assessing asthma control. Therefore, it may be considered an adequate instrument for monitoring asthma control in the Brazilian pediatric population.

Adaptation to Asthma in Children: A Matter of Coping and Stress Control

Asthma is the most common chronic lower respiratory disease in childhood throughout the world; it is characterized by bronchial hyperreactivity and variable airway obstruction. Asthma is a disorder involving autonomic nervous system, immunologic, and psychologic factors in individuals. This work sought to describe the relationship among stress, coping, and disease control in children with asthma between 6 and 12 years of age. This was a cross-sectional correlational quantitative study with the participation of 280 children with asthma admitted to outpatient consultation and to a hospitalization service at a tier IV health institution in the city of Bogotá. An inverse correlation was found between stress and coping (r = -0.581; p < .05); between stress and asthma control (r = -0.545¸ p < .05); and a direct correlation between coping and asthma control (r = 0.759; p < .05). The results show that children with low stress levels have greater control of their disease and assume functional coping against their health status. The theory of Adaptation to Chronic Health Conditions permitted analyzing children's conduct and behaviors against a health situation. These findings provide evidence for promoting interventions directly to patients with asthma, focusing on patients, families, and schools. Thus, it is possible to improve the quality of health care and strengthen primary health care.