The validity and accuracy of self-reported measures in assessing indoor mould exposure

Abstract

Mould growth is indicative of unhealthy indoor environments, posing health risks. Measuring the prevalence and scope of the exposure largely relies on resident self-diagnosis. Yet there is limited understanding of the diagnostic performance of varied constructions of self-reported mould measures. We compared the predictive performance of a range of self-reported measures that varied by their framing, reference period, and severity against objective measures of mould. Dust samples taken from 100 homes were analyzed using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) tests. Kappa statistics and areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) analyses were used to test the val..