[German instrument for the assessment of quality of life in skin diseases (DIELH). Internal consistency, reliability, convergent and discriminant validity and responsiveness].
OBJECTIVE
Performance and psychometric testing of the German Instrument for the Assessment of Quality of Life in Skin Diseases (DIELH).


METHODS
The instrument consisting of 36 questions (maximum skore 180, 7 domains) was used in 836 outpatients and quality assessments (validity, reliability, responsiveness) were performed.


RESULTS
The total skore had a mean of 54 pts. (STD 31, range 0-157) and was normally distributed. Women reported a higher impact on quality of life (median 56 vs. 49, p < 0.001). In terms of discriminant validity significant differences between diagnostic groups were observed with high scorings for patients with eczema, psoriasis, urticaria, and acne (p < 0.001). Tests for internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.71-0.92) and reliability (r = 0.73-0.86) revealed valid results. The DIELH correlated well with the DLQI (r = 0.78, p < 0.001) and moderately with 3 domains of the SF 36 (r = 0.25-0.30, p < 0.01). Changes in the quality of life after 4 weeks were consistent with the corresponding changes of the skin condition and partially significant.


CONCLUSIONS
In the use within a large patient sample the DIELH proved to be feasible, valid, reliable, and responsive.
Schäfer
T
T
Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie-am Biederstein-der Technischen Universität München, Biedersteiner Strasse 29, 80802 München. tschafer@lrz.tum.de
Staudt
A
A
Ring
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires