Validation of a Cantonese Version of the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index

• Published in: Pediatric dermatology Vol. 20; no. 6; pp. 479 - 481
• Main Author: Chuh, Antonio A. T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Inc 01.11.2003; Blackwell
• Subjects: Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Dermatology; Female; Hong Kong; Humans; Language; Male; Medical sciences; Quality of Life; Reproducibility of Results; Skin Diseases - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires - standards; Tropical medicine; Asia; China; Hong Kong; Human; Validation; Pediatrics; Skin disease; Questionnaire; Dermatology; Child; Quality of life
• ISSN: 0736-8046; 1525-1470
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1525-1470.2003.20604.x

:  My goal was to assess the validity and reliability of a Cantonese version of the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI). To do so, I invited four translators to produce a proper Cantonese translation of the CDLQI. I asked five children to complete this version and made adjustments as necessary. I then requested 30 children with skin problems and 30 children consulting for problems unrelated to the skin in a primary care setting to complete the questionnaire before their consultation. A physician assessed the severity of the skin problem using a visual analog scale. Some children from both groups completed the questionnaire again 7 days later. The CDLQI scores are strongly (γs = 0.850) and significantly (p < 0.01) correlated with physician‐rated disease severity. The Cantonese CDLQI scores were similar to those of the English version for individual skin problems. Correlation of test‐retest results is strong (γs = 0.958, p < 0.01). Cronbach's alpha is 0.83. I concluded that the Cantonese CDLQI is a valid and reliable tool for assessing the effects of skin problems on quality of life in children.