Publikationer

Research | Forskning - peer review

This study describes the development of the Asthma Symptom Score (ASS) and evaluates its accuracy and internal consistency in Greenlandic and Danish, using clinical interviews based on Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines as the gold standard. A cross-sectional study was conducted across all regi… This study describes the development of the Asthma Symptom Score (ASS) and evaluates its accuracy and internal consistency in Greenlandic and Danish, using clinical interviews based on Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines as the gold standard. A cross-sectional study was conducted across all regions of Greenland, targeting citizens aged 12+, using data from the electronic medical record. The ASS (n = 94) was validated against clinical interviews using a receiver operating characteristic curve, yielding an area under the curve estimate of 0.91, indicating strong agreement. The ASS demonstrated a sensitivity of 83%, a specificity of 93%, and an overall agreement of 87%. Patients scoring 0-5 points were categorised as having controlled asthma, while those scoring 6-20 points were categorised as non-controlled. Among participants completing both the ASS and the clinical interview, 57% were classified as having non-controlled asthma. The ASS demonstrated acceptable internal consistency in both Greenlandic and Danish. These findings underscore the need for improved management of asthma in Greenland. The strong correlation between the ASS and clinical interviews suggests that the ASS may be a valuable tool in clinical practice for assessing asthma control among patients with a confirmed diagnosis. However, further validation including a larger study group, and test - retest reliability is recommended. Læs mere

Research | Forskning - peer review

The aim was to test the internal consistency of the Greenlandic version of the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) questionnaire and to estimate the symptom burden in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Greenland using the CAT questionnaire. A Greenlandic version of the CAT question… The aim was to test the internal consistency of the Greenlandic version of the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) questionnaire and to estimate the symptom burden in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Greenland using the CAT questionnaire. A Greenlandic version of the CAT questionnaire was developed including forward translation, reconciliation, backwards translation, and pilot test. Afterwards, a cross-sectional study of patients with COPD was conducted. The internal consistency assessed by the Cronbach α coefficient was 0.823 for the Greenlandic version of the questionnaire (n = 103). The CAT was negatively correlated to spirometry values and current smoking. In the cross-sectional study (n = 250), 81.1% of the patients experienced a high symptom burden (≥10). The main CAT score was 17 (range 0–38). The CAT was used in 9 out of 17 towns in Greenland. The Greenlandic version of the CAT questionnaire demonstrated a good internal consistency. We observed a high burden of symptoms associated with reduced lung function and active smoking status among patient diagnosed with COPD in Greenland. The questionnaire can be used in clinical practice for assessment of symptom burden in patients with COPD in Greenland and may help to increase focus on symptom control and quality of care. Læs mere