The ACT is an efficient, reliable and valid way to measure asthma control, with or without lung functioning measures, such as spirometry. A caregiver version of this survey is available to health care providers.
In developing the ACT, we followed a paradigm shift away from the severity of asthma and towards the ability to control the condition. Asthma experts assisted us in establishing cut-point scores to improve the survey’s clinical utility. These cut-points identify asthma patients with somewhat controlled or poorly controlled asthma. Additionally, clinically meaningful change score thresholds are available to more appropriately monitor improvement or decline in a patient’s asthma control.
Optional ACT with Triggers (ACT-T)
The ACT-T is a brief questionnaire that assesses asthma control as well as provides a comprehensive listing of known environmental triggers that exacerbate asthma symptoms. Developed with guidance from asthma specialists, the “trigger list” includes two types of asthma triggers: allergic triggers and non-allergic triggers. Each “trigger” question asks the patient if the trigger currently worsens their asthma symptoms, and whether or not the patient is successful in avoiding the trigger.
The objective behind the administration of the asthma trigger list alongside the ACT is to help asthma patients become more aware of the environmental stimuli that may be causing flares in their asthma symptoms. Such information may be useful in communicating with providers in finding the most appropriate therapy for controlling the patient’s asthma.
