German adaptation of the Skindex-29 questionnaire on quality of life in dermatology:: Validation and clinical results

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has increasingly been recognized as an important aspect of a comprehensive clinical assessment in dermatology. Objective: The aim of the present study was to translate and validate one of the most frequently used and established skin disease-specific HRQOL questionnaires originally developed in English for the German language area: the Skindex-29. Methods: 295 in-patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis completed the German translation of the Skindex as well as a number of additional skin disease-specific questionnaires. Data from 2 subsamples were analysed separately to test for the robustness of results. Results: Results from principal component analyses supported the scale structure of the original Skindex. Internal consistency coefficients were high for all scales. Further analyses supported the convergent validity of the German adaptation of the Skindex-29 as well as its sensitivity to change. Conclusion: The study provides evidence for the validity and reliability of the Skindex-29. Copyright (C) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel.