The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric characteristics (reliability, validity, and responsiveness) of a Flushing ASsessment Tool (FAST) in subjects receiving niacin extended-release (NER) plus aspirin (ASA) daily for 6 weeks. The FAST is a questionnaire that was developed to provide a detailed assessment of flushing symptoms and their impact in patients receiving niacin therapy. The effect of aspirin on flushing symptoms, as measured by the FAST, was also evaluated.
This study was designed to evaluate the psychometric characteristics of the FAST questionnaire. The FAST is a self-administered questionnaire, completed using a hand-held electronic data capture device (LogPad e-diary). Subjects recorded the start and stop date and time of each flushing event, the presence and severity of individual flushing symptoms (redness, warmth, tingling and/or itching), and an overall assessment of their flushing experience. Evaluation of the psychometric characteristics of the FAST was based on 3 primary data analyses: 1 ) test-retest reliability based on the intraclass correlation coefficient; 2) construct validity based on Spearman correlation coefficients; and 3) responsiveness based on changes in FAST scores. The mean and maximum severity of flushing events, as measured by the FAST, were the primary variables evaluated in each of the 3 data analyses mentioned above. Psychometric analyses were performed blinded to treatment group assignment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
276
Tablets administered once daily for 6 weeks; titrated to a maximum dose of 2000 mg
Tablets administered once daily for 6 weeks
Tablets (325 mg) administered once daily for 6 weeks
Flushing ASsessment Tool (FAST) Test-retest Reliability--mean Flushing Severity Score
Test-retest reliability of the mean flushing severity score was evaluated. The intraclass correlation coefficient comparing flushing severity scores for Week 1 and Week 2 was examined to determine test-retest reliability. Flushing severity was assessed using the FAST on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most severe.
Time frame: Week 1 to Week 2
FAST Test-retest Reliability--maximum Flushing Severity Score
Test-retest reliability of the maximum flushing severity score was evaluated. The intraclass correlation coefficient comparing flushing severity scores for Week 1 and Week 2 was examined to determine test-retest reliability. Flushing severity was assessed using the FAST on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most severe.
Time frame: Week 1 to Week 2
FAST Cross-sectional Construct Validity--mean Flushing Severity Score
The relationship between mean flushing severity and overall flushing troublesomeness was evaluated by examining the Spearman rank-order correlation. Flushing severity was assessed using the FAST on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most severe. Overall flushing troublesomeness was assessed using the FAST on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most troublesome.
Time frame: Week 1
FAST Cross-sectional Construct Validity--maximum Flushing Severity Score
The relationship between maximum flushing severity and overall flushing troublesomeness was evaluated by examining the Spearman rank-order correlation. Flushing severity was assessed using the FAST on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most severe. Overall flushing troublesomeness was assessed using the FAST on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most troublesome.
Time frame: Week 1
FAST Longitudinal Construct Validity--mean Flushing Severity Score
The relationship between the change in mean flushing severity scores from Week 1 to Week 2, and the subject-rated overall treatment effect scale administered at Week 2, was assessed by examining the Spearman rank-order correlation. Flushing severity was assessed using the FAST on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most severe. The overall treatment effect was assessed on a scale of 1 (symptoms are worse since study start), 2 (symptoms are about the same since study start), or 3 (symptoms are better since study start).
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Tablets administered once daily for 6 weeks
Unnamed facility
Birmingham, Alabama, United States
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Anaheim, California, United States
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Walnut Creek, California, United States
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Denver, Colorado, United States
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Brooksville, Florida, United States
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Daytona Beach, Florida, United States
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Hollywood, Florida, United States
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Jacksonville, Florida, United States
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Largo, Florida, United States
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Miami, Florida, United States
...and 30 more locations
Time frame: Week 1 to Week 2
FAST Longitudinal Construct Validity--maximum Flushing Severity Score
The relationship between the change in maximum flushing severity scores from Week 1 to Week 2, and the subject-rated overall treatment effect scale administered at Week 2, was assessed by examining the Spearman rank-order correlation. Flushing severity was assessed using the FAST on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most severe. The overall treatment effect was assessed on a scale of 1 (symptoms are worse since study start), 2 (symptoms are about the same since study start), or 3 (symptoms are better since study start).
Time frame: Week 1 to Week 2
FAST Responsiveness--mean Flushing Severity Score
The change in mean flushing severity scores from study start to Day 43 was compared in subjects classified as responders vs. nonresponders. Flushing severity was assessed using the FAST on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most severe. Changes in mean flushing severity scores were negative if flushing symptoms improved and positive if flushing symptoms worsened.
Time frame: Study start to Day 43
FAST Responsiveness--maximum Flushing Severity Score
The change in maximum flushing severity scores from study start to Day 43 was compared in subjects classified as responders vs. nonresponders. Flushing severity was assessed using the FAST on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most severe. Changes in maximum flushing severity scores were negative if flushing symptoms improved and positive if flushing symptoms worsened.
Time frame: Study start to Day 43
Maximum Severity of Flushing Events Overall During the Study
The severity of flushing events was assessed as none, mild, moderate, severe, or very severe using the FAST. The maximum severity of flushing events overall during the study was compared among treatment groups.
Time frame: Week 1 to Week 6