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EUROQUEST - A questionnaire for solvent related symptoms: Factor structure, item analysis and predictive validity

Carter, N ; Iregren, A ; Soderman, E ; Olson, BA ; Karlson, Björn LU ; Lindelof, B ; Lundberg, I and Österberg, Kai LU (2002) In NeuroToxicology 23(6). p.711-717
Abstract
The study evaluates the factor structure and predictive validity of the symptom questionnaire EUROQUEST (EQ) that had been developed with the goal of simplifying the evaluation of health effects associated with long-term solvent exposure. The EQ was added to the normal evaluation procedures for 118 male patients with suspected solvent-induced toxic encephalopathy (TE) referred to seven Swedish clinics of occupational medicine during an 18-month period. EQ was also completed by 239 males from a random sample of 400 Swedish males aged 25-64 years selected from the general population and a sample of 559 occupationally active male spray painters aged 25-64 years. Factor and item analyses of EQ responses were performed. Ordinary least square... (More)
The study evaluates the factor structure and predictive validity of the symptom questionnaire EUROQUEST (EQ) that had been developed with the goal of simplifying the evaluation of health effects associated with long-term solvent exposure. The EQ was added to the normal evaluation procedures for 118 male patients with suspected solvent-induced toxic encephalopathy (TE) referred to seven Swedish clinics of occupational medicine during an 18-month period. EQ was also completed by 239 males from a random sample of 400 Swedish males aged 25-64 years selected from the general population and a sample of 559 occupationally active male spray painters aged 25-64 years. Factor and item analyses of EQ responses were performed. Ordinary least square regression analysis was used to evaluate sensitivity and correlation to evaluate the specificity of EQ and the separate components. Questions concerning memory and concentration symptoms alone showed better sensitivity than the other five EQ dimensions singly or combined for the entire EQ and for a subset of questions approximating Q16, a widely used organic solvent symptom screening questionnaire. However, the diagnosis of TE required information in addition to exposure and responses to EQ and Q16-like questions. The results indicate that the subset of EQ questions concerning memory and concentration might replace the more cumbersome EQ and less sensitive Q16 in screening for TE, although none of the screening instruments alone replaces current clinical diagnostic procedures. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
toxic encephalopathy, spray painters, organic solvents, cross loading, neurobehavioral tests
in
NeuroToxicology
volume
23
issue
6
pages
711 - 717
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:12520761
  • wos:000180034200008
  • scopus:0036917998
ISSN
1872-9711
DOI
10.1016/S0161-813X(02)00039-6
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
cac42ef5-8314-4b41-8c34-246ea42dca5d (old id 320585)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 15:50:03
date last changed
2022-02-20 01:24:44
@article{cac42ef5-8314-4b41-8c34-246ea42dca5d,
  abstract     = {{The study evaluates the factor structure and predictive validity of the symptom questionnaire EUROQUEST (EQ) that had been developed with the goal of simplifying the evaluation of health effects associated with long-term solvent exposure. The EQ was added to the normal evaluation procedures for 118 male patients with suspected solvent-induced toxic encephalopathy (TE) referred to seven Swedish clinics of occupational medicine during an 18-month period. EQ was also completed by 239 males from a random sample of 400 Swedish males aged 25-64 years selected from the general population and a sample of 559 occupationally active male spray painters aged 25-64 years. Factor and item analyses of EQ responses were performed. Ordinary least square regression analysis was used to evaluate sensitivity and correlation to evaluate the specificity of EQ and the separate components. Questions concerning memory and concentration symptoms alone showed better sensitivity than the other five EQ dimensions singly or combined for the entire EQ and for a subset of questions approximating Q16, a widely used organic solvent symptom screening questionnaire. However, the diagnosis of TE required information in addition to exposure and responses to EQ and Q16-like questions. The results indicate that the subset of EQ questions concerning memory and concentration might replace the more cumbersome EQ and less sensitive Q16 in screening for TE, although none of the screening instruments alone replaces current clinical diagnostic procedures. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.}},
  author       = {{Carter, N and Iregren, A and Soderman, E and Olson, BA and Karlson, Björn and Lindelof, B and Lundberg, I and Österberg, Kai}},
  issn         = {{1872-9711}},
  keywords     = {{toxic encephalopathy; spray painters; organic solvents; cross loading; neurobehavioral tests}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{711--717}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{NeuroToxicology}},
  title        = {{EUROQUEST - A questionnaire for solvent related symptoms: Factor structure, item analysis and predictive validity}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0161-813X(02)00039-6}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/S0161-813X(02)00039-6}},
  volume       = {{23}},
  year         = {{2002}},
}