Validation of a comprehensive set of pruritus assessment instruments: The chronic pruritus tools questionnaire PRURITOOLS

Abstract

Few studies have validated standard measurement instruments for evaluation of chronic pruritus. The Chronic Pruritus Tools Questionnaire PRURITOOLS assembles a set of instruments for the assessment of pruritus, such as the visual analogue scale (horizontal 100-mm line), numerical rating scale (0–10), verbal rating scale, and information on pruritus quality and improvement during therapy. This study, with 40 subjects, analysed PRURITOOLS regarding convergent validity and test–retest reliability (60 min), followed by a feasibility questionnaire. Test–retest reliability for PRURITOOLS items was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.84–1). Strong to very strong correlations between the pruritus intensity scales indicated convergent validity. The feasibility questionnaire showed an overall acceptance of PRURITOOLS, and the majority of subjects (82.5%) considered it an appropriate questionnaire to measure pruritus. In conclusion, PRURITOOLS offers validated tools for rapid pruritus assessment in routine care or endpoints of clinical trials.