Psychometric Evaluation Supports Use of RiiQ Symptoms Scales in RSV Trials

Extensive testing of the Respiratory Infection Intensity and Impact Questionnaire (RiiQ) symptoms scales supports their reliability and validity for assessing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) symptoms in clinical trials of vaccines and treatments, according to a study published online in the Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes.

The RiiQ is a patient-reported measure designed to assess symptoms and impacts of RSV infection. To evaluate the psychometric properties of the RiiQ respiratory and systemic symptoms scales, researchers used data from a total 1795 participants from an RSV vaccine trial and two observational studies of patients hospitalized with RSV. 

“Importantly, the vaccine trial and HARTI study populations were comprised primarily of older adults, including participants with risk factors for severe RSV disease, and thus representative of adults who may be vulnerable to serious RSV-mediated illness,” wrote corresponding author Richard H Osborne, PhD, of Measured Solutions for Health and Swinburne University of Technology in Australia, and study coauthors.

Psychometric testing yielded results supporting the structure, reliability, validity, and responsiveness of symptoms summary scores, according to the study. 

Inter-item correlations, results from confirmatory factor analysis, and internal consistency reliability coefficients were mostly positive and supported proposed scoring, researchers reported. Correlations between the respiratory symptoms scale and scores on a related clinician-assessed clinical questionnaire were moderate to strong and positive. Meanwhile, correlations with change on the Patient Global Impression of Severity and Patient Global Impression of Health scores supported responsiveness.

“Taken together with the rigorous process used to develop the RiiQ, the results of this study support the use of the RiiQ symptoms summary scores to evaluate efficacy in the context of RSV vaccine and treatment studies,” researchers advised.

Reference: 
Osborne RH, Nelson LM, Fehnel S, et al. Evaluation of symptoms in respiratory syncytial virus infection in adults: psychometric evaluation of the Respiratory Infection Intensity and Impact Questionnaire™ symptom scores. J Patient Rep Outcomes. 2023;7(1):51. doi:10.1186/s41687-023-00593-9