Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2026
Symptom Assessment of Patients with Allergic Rhinitis Using an Allergen Exposure Chamber
Published on: March 3, 2023
Psychometric validation of the rhinitis control assessment test: a brief patient-completed instrument for evaluating
Michael Schatz1, Eli O Meltzer, Robert Nathan
1Kaiser Permanente, San Diego, California, USA.
Background:
Allergic rhinitis is common, but a validated tool for comprehensive assessment of disease control is not available.
Objective:
To develop a simple patient-completed instrument (the Rhinitis Control Assessment Test [RCAT]) to help detect problems with control of rhinitis symptoms.
Methods:
During a visit to an allergy specialist, 410 patients with allergic rhinitis completed a Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) assessment and the 26-item developmental RCAT. Physicians also completed a global assessment of rhinitis symptom control for each patient.
Results:
Stepwise regression methods identified 6 items from the developmental RCAT (frequency of nasal congestion, sneezing, and watery eyes; sleep interference; activity avoidance; and self-assessed control) that were most predictive of the allergist's global rating of rhinitis symptom control. A summated rating scale from these 6 items showed good convergent validity (r > 0.70) with scale scores from the TNSS. The discriminant validity of the 6-item scale was demonstrated as mean RCAT scale scores differed significantly across groups of patients differing in physician-rated disease severity (F = 54.4), TNSS severity (F = 193.8), and physician-recommended change in therapy (F = 50.6) (P < .001 for all).
Conclusions:
The RCAT, a 6-item patient-completed instrument, has satisfactory psychometric properties and seems to be a valid tool for assessing control of allergic rhinitis. Further validation studies will provide confirmation.
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