Sensitivity to treatment and score bands of the Infants and Toddlers Dermatology Quality of Life questionnaire

BACKGROUND: The Infants and Toddlers Dermatology Quality of Life (InToDermQoL) questionnaire is the first dermatology-specific proxy health related QoL instrument for children from birth to 4 years. Score meaning bands and the sensitivity to successful therapeutic intervention are important to interpret the clinical meaning of an instrument. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to check the sensitivity to successful therapeutic intervention and establish score bands of the InToDermQoL questionnaire. METHODS: Parents or grandparents of 424 children with skin diseases from Spain, Malta, Croatia, Romania, Greece, and Ukraine filled in national language versions of the InToDermQoL questionnaire. Disease severity of children with atopic dermatitis was assessed by SCORAD (Scoring atopic dermatitis). Cohen’s d was used to assess the responsiveness of the instrument. RESULTS: The mean total InToDermQoL scores significantly decreased after treatment. Severity grading of the SCORAD scores gave stratification of the InToDermQoL severity grades based on 95% confidence intervals. Scores below a calculated minimal important difference of 2 corresponded to no effect on patient’s health related QoL. LIMITATIONS: Score banding may be slightly different across patient population and study context. CONCLUSION: All 3 age-specific versions of the InToDermQoL questionnaire showed sensitivity to treatment. Score bands for the InToDermQoL questionnaire have been established.