Researchers translating and culturally adapting the Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) found a median score of 7 across 188 participants aged 4 to 16 years, indicating a moderate overall effect on health-related quality of life for Amharic-speaking children with skin conditions, according to a study published in Dermatological Research and Practice by D.E. Wendimu and colleagues.
Assessing Pediatric Skin Disease Burden With the Amharic CDLQI
The validated 10-item tool measures symptoms and feelings, leisure, school, relationships, sleep, and treatment during the previous week. Scores range from 0 to 30, with higher totals showing greater impairment. Among the 188 participants evaluated in the study, 129 children had cutaneous leishmaniasis while 59 presented with other skin conditions. Approximately 26% of the children experienced a moderately large impact, 19.2% reported a very large impact, and 6.4% faced an extremely large impact on their daily lives.
Translating and Adapting the Questionnaire for Ethiopian Settings
The translation process involved forward and backward translation, expert review, cultural adaptation, and pilot testing. Children participating in the pilot tests noted that questions and response choices were clear. Investigators modified one item concerning swimming and sports to include “activities” to better match the Ethiopian setting. The resulting instrument demonstrated a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.82 for internal consistency. Interrater reliability proved strong as well, yielding an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.92 among 72 children assessed independently by two interviewers.
For children diagnosed with cutaneous leishmaniasis, CDLQI scores varied significantly based on physician-rated disease severity. Scores climbed higher among patients with multiple lesions compared to those with a single lesion, as well as among children with lesions measuring at least 40 mm versus smaller spots. Among 96 children tracked through treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis, median scores dropped from 9 at baseline to 4 after 90 days. Scores fell significantly for children whose conditions physicians rated as having minor improvement, substantial improvement, or cure, but remained unchanged for those whose disease showed no progress or worsened.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Amharic CDLQI Study
What age group and participant breakdown did the study include?
The study included 188 participants aged 4 to 16 years old. Of those children, 129 had cutaneous leishmaniasis and 59 presented with other skin conditions.
How did researchers test the reliability of the Amharic questionnaire?
Investigators measured internal consistency using a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.82. They also tested interrater reliability among 72 children assessed independently by two interviewers, yielding an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.92.
What are the primary limitations noted by the study authors?
The authors stated that the predominance of cutaneous leishmaniasis and older children in the cohort may limit generalizability across other skin conditions and younger age groups.
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