Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 1, 2025
Methods for Detecting Cough and Airway Inflammation in Mice
Published on: August 2, 2024
Validity and reliability of the Swedish version of the Leicester Cough Questionnaire in unexplained chronic cough
Ewa Ternesten-Hasséus1, Ewa-Lena Johansson2
1Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Institute of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden; Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Allergology and Palliative Medicine, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Background:
Cough is considered chronic when it lasts for >8 weeks. When no medical explanation can be found it is often called unexplained chronic cough (UCC), which may affect health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This study aimed to assesses the validity and reliability of the Swedish version of the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ-S) in patients with UCC.
Methods:
Seventy-six consecutively selected patients with UCC replied to: a local questionnaire; the LCQ-S; a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for cough; the Swedish version of the Hull Airway Reflux Questionnaire (HARQ-S); and the Chemical Sensitivity Scale for Sensory Hyperreactivity (CSS-SHR). To evaluate the reproducibility of the LCQ-S, the VAS and LCQ-S were answered again after two to four weeks.
Results:
Seventy-four patients (17 men) answered the questionnaires at baseline. Concurrent validity for LCQ-S was regarded as moderate with the VAS for cough and HARQ-S. Internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha was high for the LCQ-S total score (0.92) and satisfactory for the LCQ-S domains (0.78-0.83). Reliability and reproducibility were analysed in 57 patients (14 men). Intra-class correlation for the LCQ-S total score and domains showed strong reliability (≥0.92), without any significant differences over time. The standard error of measurement and the smallest real difference were 1.26 and 3.49, respectively. The Bland-Altman plot showed no systematic change in the mean values.
Conclusions:
The LCQ-S has good validity and reliability and can be used in clinical settings to evaluate HRQOL in Swedish-speaking adult patients with UCC.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History
01:28Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract I: Health History
Subjective Data
Subjective data provides vital information about the patient's health history and symptoms. This data is typically collected through interviews in which patients describe their experiences, symptoms, and concerns.
Health history and...
01:20Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction
01:25Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-III: Symptoms and Complications.
Symptoms of COPD can be classified as primary or systemic. Primary symptoms relate to reduced airflow, while systemic or extrapulmonary symptoms relate to COPD's broader impact on the body.
Primary Symptoms of COPD:
01:20Sputum Studies II: Culture and Sensitivity
Sputum culture and sensitivity is a medical procedure used to diagnose bacterial infections in the respiratory tract and select the most appropriate antibiotics for treatment. This process involves analyzing sputum samples of thick and opaque secretions produced in the lungs and airways. These samples are collected from patients and then sent to the laboratory for analysis.
The test can identify various pathogens responsible for respiratory infections, including Streptococcus,...
01:22Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...