title: Validation of a melasma quality of life questionnaire for the Turkish language: the MelasQoL-TR study.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Mustafa Kemal University School of Medicine, Antakya, Hatay, Turkey. catahan85@yahoo.com
authors: Asena Cigdem
authors: AC
authors: Dogramaci
authors: Deniz Yurtman
authors: DY
authors: Havlucu
authors: Tacettin
authors: T
authors: Inandi
authors: Rajesh
authors: R
authors: Balkrishnan
mesh_terms: 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