Journal Article

DKFZ-2026-00807

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Real-Time Symptom Ratings Using Ecological Momentary Assessment Versus Traditional Questionnaires in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Observational Study.

Palmen, B. ; van Herck, M. ; Goërtz, Y. M. J. ; Ebadi, Z. ; Deng, Q. ; Thong, M.DKFZ* ; Burtin, C. ; Peters, J. B. ; Sprooten, R. T. M. ; Bischoff, E. W. M. A. ; Wouters, E. F. M. ; Vercoulen, J. H. ; Houben-Wilke, S. ; Janssen, D. J. A. ; Spruit, M. A. ; Vaes, A. W.

2026
[Verlag nicht ermittelbar] Toronto

Abstract: Questionnaires assessing symptoms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) rely on retrospective reporting, introducing recall bias and missing symptom variability. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) addresses these limitations by capturing real-time symptom data.The aim of this study was to compare EMA symptom ratings with traditional questionnaires in patients with COPD.A subsample from the FAntasTIGUE study rated symptoms using questionnaires (visual analog scale, modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale, Physical Activity Rating Scale-Dyspnea Questionnaire, Checklist Individual Strength-subscale Subjective Fatigue, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and COPD Assessment Test) and EMA. Participants rated breathlessness, fatigue, anxiety, and energy level on a 7-point Likert scale during 8 random EMA prompts daily for 5 days.Among 54 participants (mean age 67, SD 7 y; forced expiratory volume in 1 s 53%, SD 20% predicted; n=35, 65% men), the EMA response rate was 76.1%. EMA scores were moderately to strongly correlated with questionnaire scores (rs=0.49-0.78, all P<.05) and varied across severity groups (all P<.05). EMA captured significant intraday and interday symptom variability.EMA is a valid tool for COPD symptom assessment, capturing real-time fluctuations to improve symptom management.

Keyword(s): Humans (MeSH) ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive: diagnosis (MeSH) ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive: physiopathology (MeSH) ; Male (MeSH) ; Female (MeSH) ; Aged (MeSH) ; Ecological Momentary Assessment (MeSH) ; Surveys and Questionnaires (MeSH) ; Middle Aged (MeSH) ; Symptom Assessment: methods (MeSH) ; Dyspnea: diagnosis (MeSH) ; Severity of Illness Index (MeSH) ; COPD ; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ; ecological momentary assessment ; questionnaires ; symptom assessment

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Cancer Survivorship (C071)

Research Program(s):

1. 313 - Krebsrisikofaktoren und Prävention (POF4-313) (POF4-313)

Appears in the scientific report 2026

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Database coverage:
; ; ; Article Processing Charges ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; DOAJ Seal ; Essential Science Indicators ; Fees ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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