Development and Validation of the Immune Status Questionnaire (ISQ)

Autor: Wilod Versprille, Livia J.F., van de Loo, Aurora J.A.E., Mackus, Marlou, Arnoldy, Lizanne, Sulzer, Titia A.L., Vermeulen, Sterre A., Abdulahad, Smedra, Huls, Hendrikje, Baars, Ton, Scholey, Andrew, Kraneveld, Aletta D., Garssen, Johan, Verster, Joris C., One Health Toxicologie, dIRAS RA-1, Afd Pharmacoepi & Clinical Pharmacology, Afd Pharmacology, Pharmacology, Pharmacoepidemiology and Clinical Pharmacology
Přispěvatelé: One Health Toxicologie, dIRAS RA-1, Afd Pharmacoepi & Clinical Pharmacology, Afd Pharmacology, Pharmacology, Pharmacoepidemiology and Clinical Pharmacology
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2019
Předmět:
Zdroj: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume 16
Issue 23
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(23). MDPI AG
ISSN: 1660-4601
1661-7827
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16234743
Popis: The self-assessment of perceived immune status is important, as this subjective observation leads individuals to decide whether or not to seek medical help or adapt their lifestyle. In addition, it can be used in clinical settings and research. The aim of this series of studies was to develop and validate a short questionnaire to assess perceived immune functioning. Five surveys were conducted among Dutch and International young healthy adults (18&ndash
30 years old), and two others among older age groups with various health complaints. For the first study, an existing immune functioning scale was modified and elaborated resulting in 23 immune-health-related items, of which the occurrence was rated on a 5-point Likert scale. A student sample was surveyed, and the results were used to shorten the 23-item listing into a 7-item scale with a predictive validity of 85%. Items include &ldquo
sudden high fever&rdquo
&ldquo
diarrhea&rdquo
headache&rdquo
skin problems (e.g., acne and eczema)&rdquo
muscle and joint pain&rdquo
common cold&rdquo
and &ldquo
coughing&rdquo
The scale is named Immune Status Questionnaire (ISQ), and it aims to assess perceived immune status over the preceding year. The second study revealed that the ISQ score correlated significantly with a 1-item perceived immune functioning (r = 0.383, p <
0.0001). In the third study, the final Likert scale descriptors were determined (&ldquo
never&rdquo
sometimes&rdquo
regularly&rdquo
often&rdquo
(almost) always)&rdquo
The fourth study showed that the test&ndash
retest reliability of the ISQ is acceptable (r = 0.80). The fifth study demonstrated the association of ISQ scores with various neuropsychological and health correlates in an international sample, including perceived health and immune fitness, as well as levels of stress, fatigue, depression and anxiety. Study 6 demonstrated significant associations between ISQ scores and experiencing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms in a sample of insomnia patients. Study 7 compared the effect of a dietary intervention in participants reporting &ldquo
poor health&rdquo
versus &ldquo
normal health&rdquo
It is shown that ISQ scores can differentiate between those with poor and normal health, and that an effective intervention is associated with a significant improvement in ISQ scores. Data from Study 7 were further used to determine an ISQ cut-off value for reduced immune functioning, and a direct comparison with 1-item perceived immune functioning scores enabled constructing the final scoring format of the ISQ. In conclusion, the ISQ has appropriate face, content, and construct validity and is a reliable, stable and valid method to assess the past 12 month&rsquo
s perceived immune status.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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