Principles of Measurement and Assessment in Dermatology

Abstract

Methods to measure skin disease may involve measurement of signs (the Psoriasis Area Severity Index and SCORAD (scoring atopic dermatitis)), symptoms (visual analogue scales, itch scores or the Psoriasis Symptom Inventory), the impact on quality of life (the Dermatology Life Quality Index, the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index or Skindex) or the benefit that patients perceive they have received from treatment (the Patient Benefit Index). There are also objective methods, such as ultrasound, to measure skin thickness. Measurement techniques should be validated to ensure that they correctly measure what they set out to measure. Methods may be designed for use in a particular skin disease, or for use across dermatology.