Validation of the Thai version of a screening questionnaire for detection of systemic lupus erythematosus.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The present study was performed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of the translation questionnaire for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) in Thai speaking populations. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The 10- item questionnaire was applied to out-patients at the rheumatology clinic of the Chiang Mai University Hospital. One hundred and thirty-nine SLE, 109 Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), and 35 Scleroderma (Scl) patients, as well as 88 Healthy Controls (HC) were enrolled into the present study. RESULTS: All subjects completed the questionnaire within 2 minutes. A positive response to three or more questions of the questionnaire gave a sensitivity and specificity of 92.81% and 76. 39%, respectively, and was comparable to the original version. CONCLUSION: This Thai-version of the screening questionnaire should be applied in the general population to determine the prevalence of SLE.