Usefulness of the Skindex-29 questionnaire for quality of life assessment in patients with lower-limb ulcers of vascular aetiology

Aim of the study
The aim of the study was to verify the psychometric characteristics and usefulness of the Skindex-29 instrument for quality of life assessment in patients with lower-limb ulcers of vascular.

Material and methods
Consecutive patients who referred to the Venous Ulceration Outpatient Clinic and the Department and Clinic of General Surgery were enrolled. The inclusion criterion of the study was the presence of a lower limb ulcer. Patients with ulcers of venous (n = 101), arterial (n = 98), or arteriovenous aetiology (n = 99) were enrolled. The reliability of the Skindex-29 in the group of patients with lower limb ulcers was evaluated based on its internal consistency, determined by Cronbach’s  index values and using the split-half method. Diagnostic accuracy of the scale was assessed on the basis of the correlation between its results and the values of an external standard measuring the same or similar parameters (correlation between the results of the Skindex-29 and the Acceptance of Illness Scale).

Results
The reliability of the Skindex-29, expressed by Cronbach’s  index, amounted to 0.94 for the global score, 0.93 for the physical symptoms subscale, and 0.94 for both emotions and psychosocial functioning subscales. The diagnostic accuracy of Skindex-29 was verified based on the correlation between its scores and the results of AIS. The correlation proved significant (r = –0.47, t = –9.21552, p < 0.05).

Conclusions
Skindex-29, the instrument for quality of life assessment in individuals with dermatological disorders, was characterised by good psychometric parameters in the sample of patients with lower-limb ulcers.