RESUMO
Objective: Due to the escalating global prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) and its status as an independent risk factor for asthma, timely and effective control of AR is crucial. Achieving this often involves the accurate assessment of AR. Currently, the Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT) is widely used as an assessment tool, but its measurement effectiveness in Chinese AR patients remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the CARAT10 scale (CARAT10-C) and analyze its application value in the assessment of allergic rhinitis and asthma control trials. Methods: The study enrolled 130 patients with AR from the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) outpatient department of a comprehensive teaching hospital from March to May 2022 as participants. The reliability and validity of the CARAT10-C scale were assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient (CAC), Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO), and Bartlett's sphericity test. Additionally, the study analyzed the effectiveness of the CARAT10-C scale in its application within the Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT). Results: The Cronbach's alpha coefficient ranges between 0 and 1, with higher values indicating better reliability. Significant differences in exploratory factor analysis suggest good validity. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the CARAT10-C scale was 0.806. Exploratory factor analysis revealed that the eigenvalues of Component 1 (3.851) and Component 2 (2.193) were both greater than 1, with a cumulative variance contribution rate (CVCR) of 60.436%. Items 6-10 were primarily loaded on Component 1 (Asthma), while items 1-4 were mainly influenced by Component 2 (AR), with loading ranges of 0.508-0.874, all significant at P < .001. The composite reliability (CAC) of the CARAT10-C scale was 0.806, exceeding 0.8, indicating high reliability. Component 1 had a CAC of 0.834, and Component 2 had a CACs of 0.807, both exceeding 0.8, indicating high reliability for both components. Conclusion: The CARAT10-C scale demonstrates good reliability and validity in the preliminary assessment of AR. It holds potential value in the evaluation and management of AR in China, although the specific application effects still require further investigation.
