title: Validation of the Skindex-16 questionnaire in patients with skin diseases in Morocco.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to translate and adapt the original version of the Skindex-16 questionnaire from English to Moroccan Arabic language, refining its terms and adapting it to Moroccan culture.
  
  
  METHODS
  After translation and cross-cultural adaptation, the questionnaire was tested on skin diseases patients. Internal consistency was tested using Cronbach's α coefficient, the test-retest reliability using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Construct validity was assessed by examining item convergent and divergent validity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The questionnaire was administered to 120 patients. The mean age of patients was 39 years (SD: 16), 49.6% were married. 76.9% of all participants lived in an urban area. The average time to complete the Skindex-16 questionnaire was 5 min. Questionnaire reliability was assessed using Cronbach's α coefﬁcient, in which the values were all > 0.7. All items exceeded the 0.4 criterion for convergent validity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In general, the ﬁndings of this study indicated that the authors have developed a semantically equivalent translation of Skindex-16 into Moroccan Arabic. It is a reliable and valid measure of the effects of skin disease on the quality of life in Moroccan patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Clinical Research and Community Health - Faculty of Medicine , Fez , Morocco.
authors.forename: Samira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: El Fakir
authors.forename: Hannane
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baybay
authors.forename: Karima
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bendahhou
authors.forename: Majdouline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Obtel
authors.forename: Loubna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Benchat
authors.forename: Fatima Zohra
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Mernissi
authors.forename: Chakib
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nejjari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014177:Translations; D055815:Young Adult