Validity of the IPAG questionnaire for asthma screening in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Abstract

Background - Objectives: Underdiagnosis of asthma is still common in the community. A simple asthma screening tool for the primary care doctors at the health facility levels to prevent the underdiagnosis. The aim of this study was to assess the screening value of the International Primary Care Airway Group(IPAG) questionnaire for the community in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam. Method: 474 people aged ≥ 16 years in 10 districts in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam had been randomly selected. Vietnamese version of the IPAG questionnaire had been asked by face to face method. History, clinical examination and spirometry with brochodilator test had been performed. Results: The IPAG questionnaire has a Cronbach alpha index of 0.78. With a cut-off point 3/7 questions, it has 93.3% sensitivity and 68.1% specificity. When using the 3 questions “wheezing in the last 12 months”, “dyspnea cause night waking” and “breathlessness on exertion” with a cut-off point 2/3 questions its senstivity and specifcity are respectively 91.1% and 79.3 %. Conclusion: Vietnamese version of the IPAG questionnaire is a useful tool for asthma screening in the community and is able to use in the practical conditions in Vietnam. In cases, the doctors are short of time or the patients feel uncomfortable to have to answer many questions, the 3 selected questions with the highest predictive value can be used. Keyword: asthma, IPAG, screening, validity of questionnaire.