[Assessment on the reliability and validity of the Dermatology Life Quality Index in Chinese version].
OBJECTIVE
Since the dermatology life quality index (DLQI), a self-administered general dermatology quality of life instrument, was originally developed and published in a dermatology clinic at University hospital of Wales, our goal was to popularize the disease-specific scale used in measuring the quality of life of patients with skin diseases and to assess the reliability and validity of its Chinese version.


METHODS
We administered the DLQI to 236 out-patients attending our dermatology clinic and results that had been found by those who originated the DLQI, were examined. The reliability and validity of DLQI were assessed by means of reliability analysis and factor analysis.


RESULTS
Overall, the DLQI seemed easy to administer and could be completed within 3 minutes. The internal consistency coefficient rates of this unidimensional measure were 0.87 (Cronbach's alpha) and 0.85 (Spearman-brown, s) with high inter-correlations found between the dimensions with a correlation coefficient ranging from 0.4024 - 0.6569. Factor analysis resulted in a unidimensional pattern, which supported the use of a total DLQI-C score.


CONCLUSIONS
DLQI was an easy and efficient instrument for assessing the quality of life in patients with dermatological problems and with better reliability and validity. Thus, it could be used in both research and clinical settings in China.
Wang
Xiao-ling
XL
Shandong Provincial Institute of Dermatology and Venereology, Jinan 250022, China.
Zhao
Tian-en
TE
Zhang
Xi-qin
XQ
D004485:Eczema / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires