Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the vitiligo-specific health-related quality of life instrument (VitiQoL) into Polish

Abstract

Introduction: Vitiligo is an acquired chronic depigmenting disorder of the skin, predominantly asymptomatic. Although vitiligo does not cause direct physical impairment, it is commonly believed that it can produce an important psychosocial burden. Aim: To translate, cross-culturally adapt and validate the vitiligo-specific health-related quality of life instrument (VitiQoL) into Polish. Material and methods: The study was conducted online on 97 patients with vitiligo from our private outpatient departments in Gdynia and Gdansk, Poland from May 2018 to December 2019. Results: There was a significant correlation between VitiQoL and DLQI (r = 0.90, p < 0.001) and also between VitiQoL-PL and subjects' assessment of the severity of their disease (r = 0.94, p < 0.001). We also found a good correlation between the total DLQI and subjects' assessment of the severity of their disease (r = 0.87, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The physicians treating this disease still do not have a specific instrument for assessing patients' QoL in Poland. They have to administer other non-vitiligo specific questionnaires to do so. A Polish version of a specific index for estimating quality of life of patients with vitiligo was validated and implemented through an online survey.