Qualitative assessment reveals differing accuracy of pruritus scales in mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome, highlighting numeric rating for itch intensity.
Key Points
To evaluate the content validity of the Numeric Rating Scale, Visual Analogue Scale, and ItchyQoL for assessing pruritus in patients with mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome.
Conducted a qualitative assessment following established COSMIN (COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments) methodology.
Evaluated patient-reported outcome measures including the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and ItchyQoL questionnaire in the target disease population.
Assessing worst itch severity over the past 24 hours using the NRS demonstrated the strongest evidence of content validity for itch intensity.
The ItchyQoL effectively measured key burdens including sleep disturbance, scratch behavior, and anger or irritability, but did not fully reflect the clinical complexity of itch in this population.