International Journal of Epidemiology, Vol 26, 126-136, Copyright © 1997 by International Epidemiological Association
AW Stewart, MI Asher, TO Clayton, J Crane, W D'Souza, PE Ellwood, RP Ford, EA Mitchell, PK Pattemore and N Pearce
BACKGROUND: To examine whether responses to questions about the lifetime
prevalence and 12-month period prevalence of symptoms of asthma and
allergies are affected by the season in which the questions are asked.
METHODS: The international Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood
(ISAAC) Phase One was undertaken in six New Zealand centres; in three
centres the effect of season was studied. Over three school terms at least
3000 children were studied in each of two age groups per centre (6-7 years;
13-14 years), one-third in each term respectively. The ISAAC standardized
written questionnaires were used to identify asthma, rhinitis and eczema
symptoms. The written questionnaire in the younger age group was completed
by the parent/guardian. The older age group self-completed the written
questionnaire and also a video questionnaire about asthma symptoms.
RESULTS: The total number of respondents was 21,437, approximately half in
each age group. The season of responding had no effect on the level of
response to eczema questions. For the written asthma questionnaire no
season-of-response effect was present for 6-7 year olds; for 13-14 year
olds there was a trend to a higher rate of positive responses by those
responding in winter, but in only one question did this reach statistical
significance. With the video questionnaire there was a similar trend for a
higher rate of positive responses when questions were asked in winter, but
this did not reach statistical significance. For rhinitis symptoms there
was a statistically significant season-of-response effect in both age
groups with two questions; the fewest positive responses by the winter
responders. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant effect of
season-of-response to questions on eczema symptoms, and most questions on
asthma symptoms. There was a season-of- response effect on responses to
questions on rhinitis symptoms suggesting a recall bias relating to recency
of symptoms.
ARTICLES
The effect of season-of-response to ISAAC questions about asthma, rhinitis and eczema in children
Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  M. Palta, M. Sadek-Badawi, M. Sheehy, A. Albanese, M. Weinstein, G. McGuinness, and M. E. Peters Respiratory Symptoms at Age 8 Years in a Cohort of Very Low Birth Weight Children Am. J. Epidemiol., September 15, 2001; 154(6): 521 - 529. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. Jeffs, R. Grainger, and P. Powell Is childhood allergy more common amongst an island population? The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, December 1, 2000; 120(4): 236 - 241. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. B Austin, B. Kaur, H R. Anderson, M. Burr, L. S Harkins, D. P Strachan, and J. O Warner Hay fever, eczema, and wheeze: a nationwide UK study (ISAAC, international study of asthma and allergies in childhood) Arch. Dis. Child., September 1, 1999; 81(3): 225 - 230. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|