[Validation of a symptom scale for COVID-19 patients in ambulatory care]

A symptom scale can be useful for the standardization of clinical evaluations and follow-up of COVID-19 patients in ambultaroy care. Scale development should be accompanied by an assessment of its reliablility and validity.

To develop and measure the psychometric characteristics of a COVID-19 symptom scale to be answered by either healthcare personnel or adult patients in ambulatory care.

The scale was developed by an expert panel using the Delphi method. We evaluated inter-rater reliability, where we defined a good correlation if Spearman's Rho was ≥ 0.8; test-retest, where we defined a good correlation if Spearman's Rho was ≥ 0.7; factor analysis using principal component methodology; and discriminant validity using Mann-Whitney's U test. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

We obtained an 8 symptom scale, each symptom is scored from 0-4, with a total minimum score of 0 and a maximum of 32 points. Inter-rater reliability was 0.995 (n = 31), test-retest showed correlation of 0.88 (n = 22), factor analysis detected 4 factors (n = 40) and discriminant capacity of healthy versus sick adults was significant (p < 0.0001, n = 60).

We obtained a reliable and valid Spanish (from Mexico) symptom scale for COVID-19 ambulatory care, answerable by patients and health care staff.