Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT)

Asthma-specific

Measure domains:  Symptom Control and Future Risk

Summary of development:  The Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) is modeled after the adult version of the ACT instrument for people 12 years of age and older (Juniper 1999). Childhood allergy and asthma experts came up with questions for the measure based on national guidelines for asthma control. Literature and previous childhood asthma measures were reviewed, and interviews with children and caregivers were conducted (Liu 2007). Parents/caregivers and children rank their symptoms differently, so this measure is designed for both kids and their parents to complete. Because younger children have a harder time with recall periods, children’s questions are asked in the present tense; caregivers answer based on a four-week recall period. This measure uses pictures of faces to represent answers like “All of the time” or “Very bad” to “None of the time” and “Very good” for younger children to more easily comprehend. Originally tested by children with asthma and their caregivers with 21 items – 8 questions for children, and 13 questions for caregivers – the C-ACT questionnaire used item selection to reduce the measure to 7 questions – 4 for children and 3 for caregivers (Liu 2007).