Qualitative assessment of the suitability of the Dysphagia Symptom Questionnaire to monitor dysphagia in children aged 7–10 years with eosinophilic esophagitis

Abstract Background The Dysphagia Symptom Questionnaire (DSQ) is a patient-reported outcome measure that assesses the frequency and severity of dysphagia in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE); however, it has only been validated for use in patients with EoE aged 11–40 years. This study exa...

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Main Authors: Robin M. Pokrzywinski, Bridgett Goodwin, Evan S. Dellon, Ellyn Kodroff, Anne Brooks, Adam Bailey, James Williams, Nirav K. Desai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2023-10-01
Series:Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41687-023-00646-z
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author Robin M. Pokrzywinski
Bridgett Goodwin
Evan S. Dellon
Ellyn Kodroff
Anne Brooks
Adam Bailey
James Williams
Nirav K. Desai
author_facet Robin M. Pokrzywinski
Bridgett Goodwin
Evan S. Dellon
Ellyn Kodroff
Anne Brooks
Adam Bailey
James Williams
Nirav K. Desai
author_sort Robin M. Pokrzywinski
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The Dysphagia Symptom Questionnaire (DSQ) is a patient-reported outcome measure that assesses the frequency and severity of dysphagia in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE); however, it has only been validated for use in patients with EoE aged 11–40 years. This study examined the content validity of the DSQ and its usability on an electronic handheld device in children aged 7–10 years with EoE. Methods In this qualitative, observational cohort study, participants were recruited to partake in two rounds of interviews. During visit 1, a cognitive interview examined EoE-associated concepts and the appropriateness of the DSQ for assessing dysphagia. Participants completed the DSQ daily for 2 weeks, and DSQ scores were calculated. After 2 weeks, a second interview assessed the usability of the DSQ on the electronic device and the burden associated with completing it daily. Results Overall, 16 participants were included (aged 7–8 years: n = 8; aged 9–10 years: n = 8); most were male (75%) and white (81%), and the mean (standard deviation [SD]) age was 8.4 (1.3) years. The most commonly reported EoE-associated concept was ‘trouble with swallowing’ (63% [10/16]). Most participants reported that the questions were ‘easy to complete’ and ‘relevant to someone with EoE and dysphagia’. Overall, participants reported understanding the questions and associated responses; however, further probing demonstrated inconsistent comprehension. Key challenging concepts included ‘solid food’, ‘trouble swallowing’, ‘vomit’, and ‘relief’; some participants also reported difficulty differentiating between pain levels (31% [4/13]). Most caregivers reported that their child had experienced dysphagia (94% [15/16]); however, mean (SD) DSQ scores over the study period were low (7.3 [7.4]), suggesting infrequent and mild dysphagia, or a lack of comprehension of the questions. Most participants reported that completing the DSQ on the electronic device was easy (93% [14/15]) and they would be willing to complete it for longer than 2 weeks (73% [11/15]). Conclusions Difficulties with comprehension and comprehensiveness suggest that the DSQ may not be sufficiently comprehensive for use in all patients in this population, and wording/phrasing changes are required before use in a clinical trial setting.
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spelling doaj.art-e3b91581a62d403485c5cdf9b76d54292023-11-05T12:19:47ZengSpringerOpenJournal of Patient-Reported Outcomes2509-80202023-10-017111410.1186/s41687-023-00646-zQualitative assessment of the suitability of the Dysphagia Symptom Questionnaire to monitor dysphagia in children aged 7–10 years with eosinophilic esophagitisRobin M. Pokrzywinski0Bridgett Goodwin1Evan S. Dellon2Ellyn Kodroff3Anne Brooks4Adam Bailey5James Williams6Nirav K. Desai7EvideraTakeda Development Center Americas, Inc.Center for Esophageal Diseases and Swallowing, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillCampaign Urging Research for Eosinophilic DiseaseEvideraEvideraTakeda Development Center Americas, Inc.Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc.Abstract Background The Dysphagia Symptom Questionnaire (DSQ) is a patient-reported outcome measure that assesses the frequency and severity of dysphagia in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE); however, it has only been validated for use in patients with EoE aged 11–40 years. This study examined the content validity of the DSQ and its usability on an electronic handheld device in children aged 7–10 years with EoE. Methods In this qualitative, observational cohort study, participants were recruited to partake in two rounds of interviews. During visit 1, a cognitive interview examined EoE-associated concepts and the appropriateness of the DSQ for assessing dysphagia. Participants completed the DSQ daily for 2 weeks, and DSQ scores were calculated. After 2 weeks, a second interview assessed the usability of the DSQ on the electronic device and the burden associated with completing it daily. Results Overall, 16 participants were included (aged 7–8 years: n = 8; aged 9–10 years: n = 8); most were male (75%) and white (81%), and the mean (standard deviation [SD]) age was 8.4 (1.3) years. The most commonly reported EoE-associated concept was ‘trouble with swallowing’ (63% [10/16]). Most participants reported that the questions were ‘easy to complete’ and ‘relevant to someone with EoE and dysphagia’. Overall, participants reported understanding the questions and associated responses; however, further probing demonstrated inconsistent comprehension. Key challenging concepts included ‘solid food’, ‘trouble swallowing’, ‘vomit’, and ‘relief’; some participants also reported difficulty differentiating between pain levels (31% [4/13]). Most caregivers reported that their child had experienced dysphagia (94% [15/16]); however, mean (SD) DSQ scores over the study period were low (7.3 [7.4]), suggesting infrequent and mild dysphagia, or a lack of comprehension of the questions. Most participants reported that completing the DSQ on the electronic device was easy (93% [14/15]) and they would be willing to complete it for longer than 2 weeks (73% [11/15]). Conclusions Difficulties with comprehension and comprehensiveness suggest that the DSQ may not be sufficiently comprehensive for use in all patients in this population, and wording/phrasing changes are required before use in a clinical trial setting.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41687-023-00646-zDysphagiaQualitative assessmentPatient-reported outcomesEsophageal eosinophiliaPediatricElectronic device
spellingShingle Robin M. Pokrzywinski
Bridgett Goodwin
Evan S. Dellon
Ellyn Kodroff
Anne Brooks
Adam Bailey
James Williams
Nirav K. Desai
Qualitative assessment of the suitability of the Dysphagia Symptom Questionnaire to monitor dysphagia in children aged 7–10 years with eosinophilic esophagitis
Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes
Dysphagia
Qualitative assessment
Patient-reported outcomes
Esophageal eosinophilia
Pediatric
Electronic device
title Qualitative assessment of the suitability of the Dysphagia Symptom Questionnaire to monitor dysphagia in children aged 7–10 years with eosinophilic esophagitis
title_full Qualitative assessment of the suitability of the Dysphagia Symptom Questionnaire to monitor dysphagia in children aged 7–10 years with eosinophilic esophagitis
title_fullStr Qualitative assessment of the suitability of the Dysphagia Symptom Questionnaire to monitor dysphagia in children aged 7–10 years with eosinophilic esophagitis
title_full_unstemmed Qualitative assessment of the suitability of the Dysphagia Symptom Questionnaire to monitor dysphagia in children aged 7–10 years with eosinophilic esophagitis
title_short Qualitative assessment of the suitability of the Dysphagia Symptom Questionnaire to monitor dysphagia in children aged 7–10 years with eosinophilic esophagitis
title_sort qualitative assessment of the suitability of the dysphagia symptom questionnaire to monitor dysphagia in children aged 7 10 years with eosinophilic esophagitis
topic Dysphagia
Qualitative assessment
Patient-reported outcomes
Esophageal eosinophilia
Pediatric
Electronic device
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s41687-023-00646-z
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