CHEST Guidelines-Tools-for-Assessing-Outcomes-in-Studies-of-Chronic

Tools-for-Assessing-Outcomes-in-Studies-of-Chronic

Pdf Summary

In a report published in CHEST, March 2015, a panel evaluated tools for assessing outcomes in studies of chronic cough. The panel, comprised of experts like Dr. Louis-Philippe Boulet and Dr. Richard S. Irwin, aimed to improve the assessment of chronic cough by suggesting the best tools for measuring cough frequency, severity, and its impact on patients' lives. <br /><br />The panel recommended using validated and reliable health-related quality-of-life (QoL) questionnaires for adults, adolescents, and children with chronic cough. Specific instruments, such as the Leicester Cough Questionnaire and the Cough-Specific Quality-of-Life Questionnaire, were suggested for adults and adolescents, while the Parent Cough-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire was recommended for children. These tools provide a comprehensive assessment of the impact of cough on patients' lives, capturing their personal experiences.<br /><br />The report highlighted the importance of objective cough counting using electronic devices to measure cough frequency, but noted its limited effectiveness in assessing cough severity. The panel emphasized the need for standardization in using visual analog scales (VASs) and numeric rating scales to report cough severity.<br /><br />The report also advised against modifying previously validated QoL questionnaires unless the new versions are shown to be reliable and valid, to maintain the integrity of patient-reported outcomes. <br /><br />In research settings, the use of tussigenic challenges was suggested to explore the mechanisms of cough, while in clinical settings, acoustic cough counting was recommended primarily for frequency assessment. The report called for further research into making QoL questionnaires more applicable across different cultures, enhancing self-reported tools for pediatric use, and exploring electronic formats for existing instruments.<br /><br />Overall, the panel's recommendations aimed to standardize and improve chronic cough evaluation, supporting more effective research and patient care.

Keywords

chronic cough

outcome assessment

quality of life

Leicester Cough Questionnaire

Cough-Specific Quality-of-Life Questionnaire

cough frequency

cough severity

electronic cough counting

visual analog scales

tussigenic challenges