German adaptation of the Skindex-29 questionnaire on quality of life in dermatology: validation and clinical results.
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.


CONCLUSIONS
The study provides evidence for the validity and reliability of the Skindex-29.
Augustin
Matthias
M
Department of Dermatology, University Clinics of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. augustin@haut.ukl.uni-freiburg.de
Wenninger
Kerstin
K
Amon
Ulrich
U
Schroth
Michael Joachim
MJ
Küster
Wolfgang
W
Chren
Margret
M
Kupfer
Jörg
J
Gieler
Uwe
U
D000328:Adult; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*