Asthma control test via text messaging: could it be a tool for evaluating asthma control?

Abstract

Introduction: Originally, the Asthma Control Test (ACT) was designed for English-speaking patients using a paper-and-pencil format. The Turkish version of the ACT was recently validated. This article compares the paper-and-pencil and web-based texting formats of the Turkish version of the ACT and evaluates the compatibility of these ACT scores with GINA-based physician assessments of asthma control. Methods: This multicentre prospective study included 431 asthma patients from outpatient clinics in Turkey. The patients were randomized into a paper-and-pencil group (n = 220) and a text messaging group (n = 211). Patients completed the ACT at Visit 1, after 10 ± 2 days, and at 5 ± 1 week to demonstrate the reliability and responsiveness of the test. At each visit, physicians assessed patients’ asthma control levels. Results: The ACT administered via texting showed an internal consistency of 0.82. For the texting group, we found a significant correlation between the ACT and physician assessments at Visit 1 (r = 0.60, p < 0.001). The AUC was 0.87, with a sensitivity of 78.0% and a specificity of 77.5% for a score of ≤19 for screening “uncontrolled” asthma in the texting group. Conclusion: When the Turkish version of the ACT was administered via either the paper-and-pencil or text messaging test, scores were closely associated with physician assessments of asthma control.

• Control
• management
• quality of life

Acknowledgements

We are indebted to Dr. Ozge Yilmaz for her invaluable assistance in the preparation of the manuscript. This study was presented as poster at the European Respiratory Society Congress, Vienna, 2012. This project was evaluated by Turkish Thoracic Society and American Thoracic Society-Methods in Epidemiologic, Clinical and Operations Research (MECOR) level III Course-Turkey 2011. We thank Diana Buist, MD, MaryAnn McBurnie. We are thankful to Karen DeVivo, a professional editor and native English speaker, for editing this manuscript. We thank to Hakan Tetik and Ismail Bayraktar for technical assistance.