Files
Document type
ArticleVersion
Published versionPublication date
Publication license
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/214953
A Qualitative Tool to Guide in the Interpretation of the Numerical Rating Scale for Pruritus Intensity in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis
Journal Title
Director/Tutor
Additional contribution
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
Atopic dermatitis is a cutaneous inflammatory disease characterized by intense pruritus, which is often unhealth-related quality of life and the high burden it poses. The authors' goal was to design a qualitative tool to guide patients and healthcare professionals in their assessment and interpretation of pruritus intensity using a numerical rating scale. The draft of this tool, henceforth guideline, was developed based on a systematic literature review and focus groups comprising patients and a scientific committee. This draft was validated with an independent group of patients and the final version was designed following their feedback. According to the results of the systematic review, pruritus impacts 6 health-related quality of life domains: sleep quality; emotional status; overall health-related quality of life; physical function; social/sexual activity; productivity, particularly affecting sleep quality and the emotional domain. Patients considered that physical function was the most strongly affected domain, followed by sleep quality and emotional well-being, establishing that a minimum pruritus intensity of 4 and 7 points impacts moderately and severely, respectively, on the different domains of patients' healthrelated quality of life. The guideline may help patients and healthcare professionals to interpret and assess pruritus intensity using a numerical rating scale and to understand the impact of pruritus on patients' healthrelated quality of life.
Related resource
Subject
Subject (English)
Citation
Citation
FIGUERAS NART, Ignasi, et al. A Qualitative Tool to Guide in the Interpretation of the Numerical Rating Scale for Pruritus Intensity in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis. Acta Dermato-Venereologica. 2024. Vol. 104, num. 18255. ISSN 1651-2057. [consulted: 11 of October of 2026]. Available at: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/214953