Division of Occupational Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Institute of Medical Psychology, University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2024 Jul;22(7):956-963. doi: 10.1111/ddg.15430. Epub 2024 Jun 26.
Chronic pruritus is a clinically heterogeneous symptom that manifests itself with varying duration, intensity, or quality. To date, there is no validated German-language instrument that systematically assesses the relevant parameters. With the support of the Pruritus Research Working Group (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Pruritusforschung, AGP), a questionnaire for the assessment of chronic pruritus (AGP questionnaire) was developed in 2008. The subsequently revised instrument, now called the German Pruritus Questionnaire, records pruritus-specific parameters such as localization, course, intensity and quality, anamnestic data on the general state of health, sociodemographic data, quality of life, and coping methods. It is to be validated in the study presented here.
The questionnaire was used in 366 patients with chronic pruritus of different etiologies from Germany (University Hospitals Heidelberg, Münster, Mainz, Erlangen, Giessen, private practice Bad Bentheim, TU Munich, Wiesbaden Kidney Center), Austria (Graz University Hospital) and Switzerland (Aarau Cantonal Hospital).
The reliability for repeated completion (retest reliability) with regard to localization, first occurrence, and concomitant diseases showed high values for Cohen's kappa (> 0.8). The data on the retest reliability of the pruritus characteristics showed lower values (< 0.7). With regard to the measurability of practically relevant changes (change sensitivity), medium to strong effect sizes were found (0.09-0.19). A statistically significant differentiation of the pruritus etiologies based on the recorded parameters was not possible.
The German Pruritus Questionnaire allows a comprehensive and structured recording of patient- and clinician-reported, relevant dimensions of chronic pruritus of different etiologies. Further adaptation and development are planned.
慢性瘙痒是一种临床表现具有不同持续时间、强度或性质的临床异质性症状。迄今为止，尚无经过验证的德语工具可系统评估相关参数。在瘙痒研究工作组（Arbeitsgemeinschaft Pruritusforschung，AGP）的支持下，于 2008 年开发了一种用于评估慢性瘙痒的问卷（AGP 问卷）。随后修订的工具，现称为德国瘙痒问卷（German Pruritus Questionnaire），记录了瘙痒特异性参数，如定位、病程、强度和性质、一般健康状况的病史数据、社会人口学数据、生活质量和应对方法。本研究旨在对其进行验证。
该问卷用于来自德国（海德堡大学医院、明斯特大学医院、美因茨大学医院、埃尔朗根大学医院、吉森大学医院、私人诊所巴特本豪森、慕尼黑工业大学、威斯巴登肾病中心）、奥地利（格拉茨大学医院）和瑞士（阿劳州立医院）的 366 例不同病因的慢性瘙痒患者。
定位、首次发作和伴随疾病的重复完成（复测信度）的可靠性具有较高的 Cohen's kappa 值（>0.8）。瘙痒特征复测信度的数据显示较低的值（<0.7）。关于实际相关变化的可测量性（变化敏感性），发现了中等至强的效应大小（0.09-0.19）。基于记录的参数，瘙痒病因的统计学显著区分是不可能的。
德国瘙痒问卷允许对不同病因的慢性瘙痒患者报告和临床医生报告的相关维度进行全面和结构化的记录。计划进一步调整和开发。
