Questionnaire-Description

The DLQI is a brief and easy-to-use questionnaire consisting of 10 questions that cover different aspects of the patient’s daily life related to quality of life. The questions are divided into six categories:
Symptoms and feelings
Daily activities
Leisure
Work and school
Personal relationships
Treatment
The answers are given on a scale from 0 to 3, where:
0: No problem
1: Slight problem
2: Moderate problem
3: Very significant problem

Data Analysis and Use

The total score of the DLQI ranges from 0 to 30, calculated by summing the responses from the 10 questions. The higher the score, the greater the impact of the skin condition on the patient’s quality of life.
The total score is categorized as follows:
0-1: No effect
2-5: Small effect
6-10: Moderate effect
11-20: Large effect
21-30: Very large effect
Data analysis helps in managing treatment and understanding the severity of the condition from the patient’s perspective.

Purpose

The main objective of the DLQI is to assess the impact of skin conditions on the patient’s quality of life. It is used for:
Evaluating quality of life before and after treatment.
Comparing the impact of different skin conditions or treatment methods.
Guiding the choice of appropriate therapeutic approach based on how the condition affects the patient’s daily life.

Calibration

The calibration of DLQI results is crucial for ensuring accurate measurement and comparison. The reliability and validity of the DLQI have been confirmed in various languages and cultural contexts. Adapting the tool to different populations involves translation and cultural adaptation, ensuring that it maintains the same accurate measurement.

References

Finlay AY, Khan GK. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI)—a simple practical measure for routine clinical use. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. 1994.
Basra MK, Fenech R, Gatt RM, et al. The Dermatology Life Quality Index 1994–2007: a comprehensive review of validation data and clinical results. British Journal of Dermatology. 2008.