title: Validation and Banding of the ItchyQuant: A Self-Report Itch Severity Scale.
abstract: Because of the significant emotional and psychosocial impact of chronic pruritus, it is important to accurately assess and measure itch severity. This study aims to validate and apply clinically meaningful bands to the ItchyQuant, an illustrated self-report numeric rating scale (NRS) for itch severity. A total of 76 adults with chronic pruritus were recruited. Participants rated their itch on the ItchyQuant, on a traditional 11-point NRS, and with verbal categorizations (no, mild, moderate, or severe). There was a significant, high correlation between the ItchyQuant and NRS (>0.92, P < 0.0001), demonstrating concurrent validity. Significantly more patients (47.2%) preferred the ItchyQuant than the NRS (23.6%) or had no preference (29.2%), P = 0.0015. Significantly more patients found the ItchyQuant easier to use (45.8%) than the NRS (20.8%) or had no preference (33.3%), P = 0.008. The set of clinically meaningful bands with the highest weighted kappa coefficient of agreement (κ = 0.69) was as follows: 0 (no itch), 1-3 (mild itch), 4-7 (moderate itch), 8-10 (severe itch). The ItchyQuant is a clinically meaningful measure of itch severity, demonstrating face and concurrent validity, that many patients prefer and find easier to use when compared with a traditional NRS. We suggest that the ItchyQuant can be added to the existing armamentarium of itch severity scales. We plan to investigate the ItchyQuant further in cognitively challenged populations.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors: Caitlin G
authors: CG
authors: Haydek
authors: Department of Dermatology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors: Elyse
authors: E
authors: Love
authors: Department of Dermatology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Medicine, Pennsylvania Hospital, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors: Nicholas K
authors: NK
authors: Mollanazar
authors: Department of Dermatology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors: Rodrigo
authors: R
authors: Valdes Rodriguez
authors: Department of Dermatology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors: Helen
authors: H
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Dermatology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors: Gil
authors: G
authors: Yosipovitch
authors: Department of Dermatology, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors: Michael D
authors: MD
authors: Tharp
authors: Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.
authors: Jon M
authors: JM
authors: Hanifin
authors: Department of Dermatology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors: Kuang-Ho
authors: KH
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Dermatology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Department of Dermatology, Decatur, Georgia, USA. Electronic address: schen2@emory.edu.
authors: Suephy C
authors: SC
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011537:Pruritus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile