Validation of a melasma quality of life questionnaire for the Turkish language: the MelasQoL-TR study.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, the objective was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the melasma quality of life questionnaire (MelasQoL-Tr) for melasma patients.


METHODS
The study included 114 melasma patients. The melasma area and severity index (MASI), MelasQoL-Tr and the Turkish short version of the QoL assessment instrument from the World Health Organization (WHOQOL-BREF) were used to assess melasma severity and QoL at baseline. The reliability and validity of MelasQoL-Tr were computed.


RESULTS
The mean age of the patients in the study was 31.8 +/- 7.3 years. The internal consistency of the scale (Cronbach's alpha coefficient) was 0.88. The MelasQoL-Tr score was 29.9 +/- 14.6 (range 10-66). The total WHOQOL-BREF score was 54.8 +/- 9.8. The comparison of MelasQoL-Tr and WHOQOL-BREF questionnaires showed an inverse significant correlation on total scores, which indicated a sufficient convergent validity. According to the subscale of WHOQOL-BREF, the inverse correlation was most significant between the MelasQoL-Tr score and psychological domain and less significant between the MelasQoL-Tr score and environmental domain. The MelasQoL-Tr score and MASI were significantly correlated.


CONCLUSIONS
The Turkish version of the MelasQoL was valid and reliable for evaluating the quality of life of Turkish melasma patients.
Dogramaci
Asena Cigdem
AC
Department of Dermatology, Mustafa Kemal University School of Medicine, Antakya, Hatay, Turkey. catahan85@yahoo.com
Havlucu
Deniz Yurtman
DY
Inandi
Tacettin
T
Balkrishnan
Rajesh
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008548:Melanosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D011336:Probability; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012737:Sex Factors; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014177:Translations; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult