title: Validation of the burns itch questionnaire.
abstract: Itch (pruritus) is a common multidimensional complaint after burn that can persist for months to years. A questionnaire able to investigate itch and its consequences is imperative for clinical and research purposes. The current study investigated the factor structure, internal consistency and construct validity of the Burns Itch Questionnaire (BIQ), a questionnaire particularly focusing on itch in the burns population. The BIQ was completed by 195 respondents at 3 months after burn. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed to investigate the factor structure. EFA showed the BIQ comprised three latent factors: itch severity, sleep interference and daily life interference. This was re-evaluated in a confirmatory factor analysis that yielded good fit indices after removing two items. The three subscales showed to have high internal consistency (.89) and were able to distinguish between patients with severe and less severe complaints. In conclusion, the BIQ showed to be useful in persons suffering from itch following burns.
authors.affiliation: Association of Dutch Burn Centres, Department Behavioral Research, Beverwijk, The Netherlands; Utrecht University, Department Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: nvanloey@burns.nl.
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Van Loey
authors.affiliation: Maasstad Hospital, Burn Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Hofland
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Gent, Burn Centre, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hendrickx
authors.affiliation: Maasstad Hospital, Burn Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van de Steenoven
authors.affiliation: Red Cross Hospital, Burn Centre, Beverwijk, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boekelaar
authors.affiliation: Association of Dutch Burn Centres, Department Clinical Research, Groningen, The Netherlands; Martini Hospital, Burn Centre, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Nieuwenhuis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011537:Pruritus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Burns; Itch; Pruritus; Questionnaire