Validation of a melasma quality of life questionnaire for the Turkish language: The MelasQoL-TR study

• Published in: The Journal of dermatological treatment Vol. 20; no. 2; pp. 95 - 99
• Main Authors: Dogramaci, Asena Cigdem, Havlucu, Deniz Yurtman, Inandi, Tacettin, Balkrishnan, Rajesh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oslo Informa UK Ltd 01.01.2009; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Analysis of Variance; Biological and medical sciences; Dermatology; Female; Humans; Language; Male; Medical sciences; Melanosis - diagnosis; Melanosis - psychology; Melasma; Pigmentary diseases of the skin; Probability; Quality of Life; questionnaires; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sex Factors; Sickness Impact Profile; Surveys and Questionnaires; Translations; Turkey; Turkish version; validation; Young Adult; Asia; Turkey; Human; Validation; questionnaires; Skin disease; Chloasma; Pigmentation disorder; Questionnaire; Melasma; Turkish version; Quality of life
• ISSN: 0954-6634; 1471-1753
• DOI: 10.1080/09546630802287553

Objectives: In this study, the objective was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the melasma quality of life questionnaire (MelasQoL-Tr) for melasma patients. Methods: The study included 114 melasma patients. The melasma area and severity index (MASI), MelasQoL-Tr and the Turkish short version of the QoL assessment instrument from the World Health Organization (WHOQOL-BREF) were used to assess melasma severity and QoL at baseline. The reliability and validity of MelasQoL-Tr were computed. Results: The mean age of the patients in the study was 31.8 ± 7.3 years. The internal consistency of the scale (Cronbach's alpha coefficient) was 0.88. The MelasQoL-Tr score was 29.9 ± 14.6 (range 10-66). The total WHOQOL-BREF score was 54.8 ± 9.8. The comparison of MelasQoL-Tr and WHOQOL-BREF questionnaires showed an inverse significant correlation on total scores, which indicated a sufficient convergent validity. According to the subscale of WHOQOL-BREF, the inverse correlation was most significant between the MelasQoL-Tr score and psychological domain and less significant between the MelasQoL-Tr score and environmental domain. The MelasQoL-Tr score and MASI were significantly correlated. Conclusion: The Turkish version of the MelasQoL was valid and reliable for evaluating the quality of life of Turkish melasma patients.