The Polish Version of Skindex-29: Psychometric Properties of an Instrument to Measure Quality of Life in Dermatology

The study adapted the Skindex-29 questionnaire for Polish dermatology patients and involved 290 participants. It found that the Polish version had high reliability, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranging from high to very high for all indexes. The factor analysis suggested a four-factor structure, which was different from the original three-factor structure. The questionnaire was effective in distinguishing quality of life differences among various skin conditions and between in-patients and out-patients. Skin lesions on specific body parts, such as legs and anogenital areas, were significant predictors of lower quality of life. The study concluded that the Polish Skindex-29 is a reliable and valid tool for measuring dermatological quality of life, but suggested reconsideration of its factor structure.