TRACK: Validation of the Portuguese Version

The TRACK ("Test for Respiratory and Asthma Control in Kids") questionnaire is the only instrument developed and validated so far to evaluate the control of respiratory symptoms in young children under five years of age. The TRACK questionnaire consists of five questions, scored from 0 to 20, given to caregivers of children with asthma or recurrent respiratory symptoms, and addresses respiratory symptoms, nocturnal awakenings and limitation of daily activities in the last four weeks, use of bronchodilator medications over the past three months and systemic corticosteroids in the last year.

The TRACK questionnaire was developed in English and has already been translated and validated into Spanish and Arabic. At the moment there is no translation and validation of the TRACK questionnaire for the Portuguese language, purpose of the present project.

Inclusion criteria

• Native Portuguese speakers families
• Medical diagnosis of asthma or history of at least three episodes of cough and/or wheeze and/or dyspnea (duration longer than 24 hours) and treated with bronchodilators

Exclusion criteria

• Other relevant pulmonary diseases (i.e.: cystic fibrosis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia)
• Systemic diseases (i.e.: heart diseases, neurologic disorders)
• Premature birth (under 37 weeks of gestational age)
• Congenital malformations
• Illiteracy and/or inability of parents to understand the questionnaire