The Development and Validation of a Cough Control Questionnaire for Chronic Cough

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are working to develop and validate a new patient-focused tool called the Cough Control Questionnaire (CCQ) to assess the control of chronic cough, a condition lasting more than 8 weeks that affects 5-12% of people worldwide and impacts health status and quality of life. Unlike asthma, there are currently no validated tools specifically designed to measure cough control. This study aims to create and test a questionnaire that may help evaluate treatments for chronic cough in clinical and research settings. The study consists of three phases. First, a literature review will examine existing tools for assessing respiratory disease control. Next, patient focus groups and expert panel reviews will develop the CCQ through qualitative research and cognitive interviews to ensure clarity and relevance. Finally, patients with chronic cough will complete the CCQ along with assessments of cough severity, quality of life, and health status. Some participants will also undergo objective cough frequency monitoring and cough reflex testing to validate the questionnaire. Participants will be adults aged 18 to 100 years with chronic cough, including refractory and unexplained types. They will take part in focus groups or validation studies by completing questionnaires and interviews. The study measures outcomes such as cough control via the CCQ, cough severity, quality of life, cough frequency, and reflex testing over a two-week period. This observational study is sponsored by King's College Hospital NHS Trust and runs until September 2031.

Development of a Cough Control Questionnaire (CCQ)