[Spanish asthma patients' beliefs about health and medicines: validation of 2 questionnaires].

Objective: We translated 2 health beliefs questionnaires-an instrument based on the health belief model (HBM) containing 19 items in 6 domains and the Beliefs About Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ) containing 18 items divided into a general and a specific section-and then administered and validated them in a group of Spanish patients with asthma.

Patients And Methods: In 2 clinical visits data were collected on 126 patients with stable asthma of different levels of severity. At the first visit, the patients underwent spirometry and were asked questions about sociodemographic factors and clinical history.

[Contribution of exhaled nitric oxide measurements to abbreviated bronchial challenge test protocols].

Objective: The bronchial challenge test is commonly used to diagnose asthma but it is a tedious, time-consuming procedure. Although in recent years, several shortened methods have been proposed, it has been shown that they can give rise to exaggerated bronchoconstriction. The aims of the present study were a) to determine the frequency of exaggerated bronchoconstriction in patients with asthma following the application of a shortened bronchial challenge test, and b) to determine if the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) can be used to predict the onset of exaggerated bronchoconstriction.

Dissociation of lung function, dyspnea ratings and pulmonary extension in bronchiectasis.

Unlabelled: Bronchiectasis is a heterogeneous disease in terms of its clinical and functional presentation. Some isolated parameters have been used to assess the severity of bronchiectasis or its response to treatment. A study was undertaken to evaluate whether lung function, dyspnea and extension of the disease are separate entities in the impact of bronchiectasis upon patients using factor analysis.