Are paper-based forms and telephone interview equivalent modes of administration for the Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT)?

The CARAT is valid to assess asthma control using paper-based forms. For follow-up purposes, telephone interview may be useful, but equivalence between these modes of administration was not studied. This study compared CARAT scores when administered via paper-based forms and telephone interview 1-week apart. Patients with asthma, recruited during scheduled medical visits in 4 secondary care centers, filled in the paper-based CARAT. After 3-7 days (median-M 6), CARAT was again collected by telephone interview. CARAT scores (from 0-worst to 30-best; >24 controlled) were obtained. The internal consistency (Cronbach’s α), test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient-ICC2,1) and agreement (Cohen9s kappa) were calculated. A total of 45 patients (23 male; M=21[interquartil range-IQR 19] years) were included. The CARAT median score was 22[IQR 10.5] in paper-based forms and 22[IQR 9.5] in telephone interview (p=.098). Twenty-one patients (47%) had a difference of 0-1 point between the 2 moments. Only 10 patients (22%) had a difference above the minimal clinically important difference (MCID≥4). The Cronbach’s α was 0.85 for paper-based CARAT and 0.79 for telephone interview. The ICC was 0.87 (95%CI 0.78-0.93; p The CARAT score change above the MCID may be related to clinical changes in the previous week influencing the 4-week recall period. Telephonic administration of CARAT is an alternative approach to conventional paper-based forms in patients with asthma.