Description

The Sydney Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire is intended to help assess effectiveness of asthma management by measuring outcomes which are relevant to the concerns of the patients. It can be used to assess change over time, together with physiologic and other monitors.


 

The instrument consists of 20 statements.

 

Scoring of responses is based on 5-point Likert scale responses:

 

Responses

Points

not at all

0

mildly

1

moderately

2

severely

3

very severely

4

 

Scoring: based on 5-point Likert scale responses

 

total score =

= (MEAN(total points for all 20 questions)) * 2.5

 

breathlessness and restricted subscore =

= (MEAN(points for questions 1+2+3+4+5+15+16)) * 2.5

 

social disruption subscore =

= (MEAN(points for questions 11+12+13+14+17)) * 2.5

 

mood disturbance subscore =

= (MEAN(points for questions 6+7+8+9+10) * 2.5

 

health concerns subscore =

= (MEAN(points for questions 11+17+18+19+20) * 2.5

 

Interpretation:

• The scores and subscores range from 0 to 10, with 10 indicating severe compromise.

• The questionnaire is able to detect improvement in patients with asthma can separate between improved and stable patients.

• The social disruption subscale most strongly correlated with change in the markers of asthma severity.

 

Conversion of score to symptom descriptor (not in references):

 

Score

Symptoms

0

none

< 1.0

minimal

1.0 to 3.5

mild

3.6 to 6.0

moderate

6.1 to 9.0

severe

> 9.-

very severe

 

Limitations:

• The questionnaire may not be valid for children and adolescents with asthma.

 


To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.