J Allergy Clin Immunol

New tool validated for reliable drug allergy history collection

April 16, 2025

Study details: The study aimed to validate the Drug Allergy History Tool (DAHT), a patient-reported survey instrument designed to collect drug allergy history. The tool underwent three rounds of cognitive testing and was assessed for reliability through test-retest comparisons. Quality and validity were evaluated by comparing the DAHT data with allergist documentation in electronic health records.

Results: The DAHT was completed by 79 participants (mean age 49 years, 85% female, 85% White, 11% Hispanic), with 29 having single and 50 having multiple drug allergy labels. Common allergies included penicillins (77%), sulfonamides (32%), cephalosporins (15%), and NSAIDs (8%). The DAHT showed acceptable test-retest reliability (median kappa [κ] = 0.64, median agreement = 86%) and provided a more complete allergy history than allergist records, with lower item uncertainty (21% vs. 79%) and fair concordance (median κ = 0.21, median agreement = 67%).

Clinical impact: The DAHT is a reliable and valid tool for collecting patient-reported drug allergy information. It can enhance clinical care and research by providing standardized and comprehensive drug allergy histories, potentially improving patient outcomes and reducing the risk of adverse drug reactions.

Source:

Blumenthal KG, et al. (2025, March 4). J Allergy Clin Immunol. The drug allergy history tool (DAHT): Validation of a patient-reported survey instrument. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40049420/