Psychometric validation of the Psoriasis Symptom Scale, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Fatigue and pain‐Visual Analogue Scale in patients with generalized pustular psoriasis

Burden, A. D. et al. (2024) Psychometric validation of the Psoriasis Symptom Scale, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Fatigue and pain‐Visual Analogue Scale in patients with generalized pustular psoriasis. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, (doi: 10.1111/jdv.19830) (PMID:38334243) (Early Online Publication)

Abstract

Background: Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare, chronic, inflammatory skin disease associated with considerable patient burden. The Psoriasis Symptom Scale (PSS), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Fatigue (FACIT-Fatigue) and pain-Visual Analogue Scale (pain-VAS) are patient-reported outcomes (PROs) that have not yet been validated in patients with GPP. Objectives: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the PSS, FACIT-Fatigue and pain-VAS using data from Effisayil 1, a randomised trial of spesolimab in patients with moderate-to-severe GPP. Methods: Inter-item correlations and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were performed using Week 1 data. Internal consistency was assessed with Cronbach's α coefficient using baseline and Week 1 data. Test–retest reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs); change data for the GPP Physician Global Assessment total score and pustulation subscore were used to define a stable population. Convergent validity was assessed at baseline and Week 1 using Spearman's rank-order correlations. Known-groups validity was measured by analysis of variance using Week 1 data. Ability to detect change from baseline to Week 1 was evaluated by analysis of covariance. Results: Inter-item and item-to-total correlations were moderate or strong for most PSS and FACIT-Fatigue items. CFA demonstrated the unidimensionality of the PSS and FACIT-Fatigue, with high factor loadings for most items (PSS range, 0.75–0.94; FACIT-Fatigue range, 0.11–0.93) and acceptable fit statistics. Both scores demonstrated internal consistency (Cronbach's α, 0.71 and 0.95, respectively). The PSS, FACIT-Fatigue and pain-VAS demonstrated test–retest reliability (ICCs ≥0.70) and good evidence of convergent validity. Furthermore, the PROs could differentiate between known groups of varying symptom severity (range, p < 0.0001–0.0225) and detect changes in symptom severity from baseline to Week 1 (range, p < 0.0001–0.0002). Conclusions: Overall, these results support the reliability, validity and ability to detect change of the PSS, FACIT-Fatigue and pain-VAS as PROs in patients with GPP.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The study was supported and funded by Boehringer Ingelheim.
• Status: Early Online Publication
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Burden, Professor David
• Authors: Burden, A. D., Bissonnette, R., Anatchkova, M., Budhiarso, I., Skalicky, A. M., Liberato, A. C.S., Hu, N., Thoma, C., Gloede, T., Kohlmann, T., and Lebwohl, M. G.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Journal Name: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0926-9959
• ISSN (Online): 1468-3083
• Published Online: 09 February 2024
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2024 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 2024
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence