Quality of life measurement in patients with Psoriasis in Kuwait

ABSTRACT

Eighty cases with severe psoriasis and 80 patients with other chronic skin diseases were selected for this study. The subjects were asked to complete a questionnaire that included questions focused on the potential patients' physical activities [ten items], psychological feelings [four items], social relationships [nine items] and sexual activity. All domains were scored in such a way that patients with the worst quality of life had the highest score. The questionnaire was tested for its reliability, internal consistency and construct validity. The study revealed a high degree of repeatability and reliability of the questionnaire. Coefficients of Cronbach's alpha were >0.80 for all domains. The scales of the questionnaire could significantly discriminate between cases with psoriasis and those without. All scores of domains were directly and significantly correlated with each other