Using and Scoring LINQ
The Lung Information Needs Questionnaire (LINQ) is a practical tool for assessing the information needs of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It offers a straightforward approach to identifying educational needs and supporting tailored clinical interventions. The LINQ is designed for both clinical and research use and is freely available for non-profit applications.
Using LINQ in Clinical Practice
Patients can complete the LINQ independently while waiting for appointments or with assistance from healthcare professionals. The tool is versatile and can be administered by various clinicians, including doctors, respiratory nurses, and physiotherapists. Once completed, healthcare providers should carefully review patient responses to guide consultations and provide targeted education based on identified information needs.
For clinical practice, scoring is typically unnecessary. Instead, clinicians should inspect patient responses and incorporate them into consultations. However, when used for audit or research purposes, scoring is required to quantify patient information needs and evaluate the impact of educational interventions.
Scoring and Interpretation
An informal assessment of the Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) for the LINQ suggests that a one-point change in the score is considered a meaningful difference as perceived by COPD patients. This metric helps clinicians assess changes in patient understanding and the effectiveness of interventions over time.
The LINQ assesses the extent of the patient’s information needs as perceived by both the patient and clinician. It produces an overall score and six domain scores, evaluating key aspects of COPD management:
- Disease Knowledge: Questions 1–4 (Score Range: 0–4)
- Medicines: Questions 5–7 (Score Range: 0–5)
- Self-Management: Questions 8–9 (Score Range: 0–6)
- Exercise: Questions 13–15 (Score Range: 0–5)
- Diet: Question 16 (Score Range: 0–2)
- Smoking: Questions 10–12 (Score Range: 0–3)
For the Smoking Domain, if a patient scores 0 for question 10 (indicating they no longer smoke), the domain score is 0, regardless of responses to questions 11 or 12. If the patient scores 1 for question 10, responses to questions 10–12 are summed to generate the domain score.
To calculate the overall LINQ score, sum the scores from all six domains:
- Minimum Score: 0 (Low Information Needs)
- Maximum Score: 25 (High Information Needs)
By following the scoring guidelines, healthcare professionals and researchers can ensure consistent application of the LINQ, supporting its use as a reliable tool for evaluating educational needs and improving patient outcomes in COPD management.
Completion Time and Adaptability
The LINQ is designed to be completed in approximately 6 minutes, making it easily adaptable to clinical workflows and research protocols.
In addition to its ease of use, the LINQ is freely accessible for clinical practice and non-profit research purposes. It can be downloaded directly from this site without the need for prior permission or licensing fees. The open-access nature of the LINQ supports broad adoption in diverse healthcare settings, promoting better patient education and improved self-management practices.
For commercial use, including integration into proprietary systems or commercial research applications, please contact us for licensing and partnership opportunities. We are open to discussing potential collaborations that align with the LINQ’s mission to enhance patient-centered care in COPD and other chronic lung diseases.
By utilizing the LINQ, healthcare professionals can enhance communication with patients, identify specific gaps in understanding, and support effective self-management strategies. The tool’s simplicity, combined with its clinical relevance, makes it an invaluable resource in respiratory care.