German Adaptation of the Skindex-29 Questionnaire on Quality of Life in Dermatology: Validation and Clinical Results

Abstract

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has increasingly been recognized as an important aspect of a comprehensive clinical assessment in dermatology. Objective: The aim of the present study was to translate and validate one of the most frequently used and established skin disease-specific HRQOL questionnaires originally developed in English for the German language area: the Skindex-29. Methods: 295 in-patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis completed the German translation of the Skindex as well as a number of additional skin disease-specific questionnaires. Data from 2 subsamples were analysed separately to test for the robustness of results. Results: Results from principal component analyses supported the scale structure of the original Skindex. Internal consistency coefficients were high for all scales. Further analyses supported the convergent validity of the German adaptation of the Skindex-29 as well as its sensitivity to change. Conclusion: The study provides evidence for the validity and reliability of the Skindex-29.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Patient-Defined Benefit of Clobetasol 0.05% in Women with Chronic Lichen Sclerosus of the Vulva

“…The quality of life questionnaire Skindex-29 produced highest scores with respect to the symptoms scale in the present cohort (table 2). Furthermore patients were affected regarding their emotional life, while social behaviour was less impaired due to their vulvar condition (scales ‘Emotions’ and ‘Functioning’).The fact that the biggest reduction in the patients’ quality of life is caused by vulvar symptoms has been reported by other authors too, and effective treatment of these symptoms is therefore very likely to have a positive influence on patients’ quality of life [27,29]. …”

“…psoriasis and eczema) and were shown to be reliable and valuable (Cronbach alpha = 0.87–0.96) [15]. The German validation of the questionnaire was performed by Augustin et al in 2004 in patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (Cronbach alpha >0.8) [27]. As the Skindex contains also questions regarding sexual dysfunction, it was considered suitable for the evaluation of quality of life in patients with vulvar dermatoses.…”

Atopic Dermatitis: Impact on the Quality of Life of Patients and Their Partners

“…Pruritus is a cause of discomfort, as is pain in other disorders, and results in sleep disorders. Atopic dermatitis is often associated with atopic manifestations: asthma, spasmodic rhinitis and conjunctivitis, which can also impair the health quality of life of the patients (children and/or adults) [1, 3, 7]. …”

Cost of Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis in Germany: A Multicenter Cost-of-Illness Study

“…Psoriasis is a skin disease which has substantial socioeconomic bearing for several reasons: (1) it is a highly prevalent disease, affecting about 2–3% of adults in Western populations [1,2,3,4,5,6]; (2) it is a chronic disease which is associated with permanent or frequently recurring, highly visible and symptomatic skin lesions [7, 8]; (3) it leads to significant burden of disease and a reduction in quality of life (QoL) in patients from all countries [9,10,11,12]; (4) many patients with psoriasis are of working age, this results in work day loss, and therefore increased indirect costs (productivity losses). …”