Appendix A.

Item content of variables tested for inclusion in the COPD-PS™ survey

Conceptual Domain	Item Content
Dyspnea	During the past 4 weeks, how much of the time did you feel short of breath?
	Do you get out of breath with activity?
	On average, breathing problems usually keep me awake at night… (frequency)
	Over the last year, I have had shortness of breath:
	During the past 4 weeks, how often did breathing problems limit your ability to exercise as much as you would like?
	In the past 4 weeks, how often have you felt short of breath under the following conditions? (When lying down flat; When sitting or resting; Getting dressed; When walking less than one block; Bending over; When climbing one flight of stairs; With heavy exercise or manual work (running, cycling, swimming fast))
	Do you get out of breath more easily than others your age?
Cough	Over the last year, I have coughed:… (frequency)
	In the past 4 weeks, how often have you had any of the following? (Coughing first thing in the morning; A cough that just won't go away; A cough that makes your chest hurt; Coughing “attacks” when you exercise; A cough that wakes you up at night; A need to cough to clear your chest)
	How often in the past 4 weeks have you had a nagging cough?
Phlegm	Do you ever cough up any ‘stuff’, such as mucus or phlegm?
	How often in the past 12 months have you brought up phlegm or mucus first thing in the morning?
	Please select the answer that best describes you in the past 12 months. I have to clear my chest of stuff when I wake up in the morning.
Colds/bronchitis	Please select the answer that best describes you in the past 12 months. (I get a lot of chest colds; When I get a cold it really stays with me; My colds last for weeks rather than days; I seem to catch a cold more easily than other people do; I get bronchitis at least once every winter; I have frequent bouts with bronchitis)
Chest Congestion/Wheezing	In the past 4 weeks, how often have you had any of the following? (A feeling like something might be “stuck” in your chest or lungs; A feeling of heaviness in chest; Noisy breathing when you sleep; Chest congestion; Noisy breathing during the day (gurgling, bubbling, rattling)
Functional Impact	I do less than I used to because of my breathing problems.
	In the past 4 weeks, how much did breathing problems limit your usual activities or enjoyment of everyday life?
	In the past 4 weeks, how much of the time did you have difficulty in performing work or other daily activities because of breathing problems?
	In the past 4 weeks, how often: (did breathing problems limit you in performing your usual work activities, including housework, work, school or social activities; did breathing problems keep you from socializing; did you feel fed up or frustrated because of breathing problems; did breathing problems leave you too tired to do work or daily activities; did breathing problems keep you from getting as much done at work or at home; did breathing problems make it difficult for you to focus your attention on other things?)
Personal Characteristics	Do you find that certain strong smells such as exhaust fumes, cigarette smoke or paint fumes affect you: (extent of effect)
	Smoking history (Current and past status, pack-years)
	Do you have a family history of emphysema or chronic lung problems? Have you been exposed to tobacco or other kinds of second-hand smoke at home or work for extended periods of time?
	Do you live with someone who smokes?
	Have you been exposed to dust, gases, or dirty air at work?