The Family Dermatology Life Quality Index is a questionnaire designed for adult (more than 16 years of age) family members or partners of patients with any skin disease. It is self explanatory and can be simply handed to the patient's family member/partner who is asked to fill it in without the need for detailed explanation. It is usually completed in two to three minutes.
The FDLQI is designed to be used as an additional outcome measure in conjunction with the DLQI or any other patient-completed questionnaire. It can be used by researchers carrying out evaluation research or by clinicians in order to assist the clinical consultation, evaluation and clinical decision making process. There is no need to seek specific permission for clinical use and there is no charge for the use of the FDLQI in this context. However it is a requirement that every copy of the FDLQI, in whatever language, should always reprint the copyright statement at the end of the FDLQI.
The above permission does not affect the requirement for seeking of permission and of possible payment when the FDLQI is used for research purposes.
The FDLQI is copyright world-wide and can only be reprinted with permission from the authors (except for routine clinical purposes; see above).
The USA Library of Congress Registration
Number: TXu1-296-736
Registration Date: 14 April 2006
Authors
Dr M K A Basra and Professor A Y Finlay
The copyright statement
© M K A Basra, A Y Finlay Cardiff University 2005. This must not be copied without the permission of the authors. www.dermatology.org.uk
The copyright statement must always be reprinted at the end of every copy of this questionnaire in whatever language.
There is a simple method for getting formal permission for use of the FDLQI. Please contact us on the details below. Formal permission is usually given immediately.
When requesting permission to use the DLQI, or any of the other measures, please give the following information:
For general queries, technical aspects and permission to use:
E-mail: dermqol@cf.ac.uk
Other contacts:
Mrs Joy Hayes (financial aspects): HayesJ@cf.ac.uk
Professor Andrew Y Finlay: FinlayAY@cf.ac.uk
Dr Mohammad K A Basra: drkhurshid69@hotmail.com
Address:
Department of Dermatology
Cardiff University School of Medicine
Heath Park, Cardiff
CF14 4XN
United Kingdom
Te: +44 (0)29 2074 2884
Fax: +44 (0)29 2074 4321
There are many validated translations availiabe.
Link to the Translation pageStrict translation guidelines are followed in order to ensure high quality translations are available.
Link to the Translation guidelines (PDF Version)The scoring of each question is as follows:
| Not at all/Not relevant | scored 0 |
| A little | scored 1 |
| Quite a lot | scored 2 |
| Very much | scored 3 |
| Not relevant | scored 0 |
| Question unanswered | scored 0 |
The FDLQI total score is calculated by summing the score of each question resulting in a maximum of 30 and a minimum of 0. The higher the score, the more quality of life is impaired. The FDLQI can also be expressed as a percentage of the maximum possible score of 30.
Interpretation of incorrectly completed questionnaires
There is a very high success rate of accurate completion of the FDLQI. However, sometimes subjects do make mistakes.
1. If one question is left unanswered this is scored 0 and the scores are summed and expressed as usual out of a maximum of 30.
2. If two or more questions are left unanswered the questionnaire is not scored.
3. If two or more response options are ticked, the response option with the highest score should be recorded.
4. If there is a response between two tick boxes, the lower of the two score options should be recorded.
There is a small charge for the use of the FDLQI (Except where the FDLQI is used for routine clinical purposes). This charge is based upon the total number of subjects to whom the Index is administered. It is not based upon the frequency with which the questionnaires are administered to each individual.
These charges are always waived by the copyright holders for non-funded 'academic' studies and they are mainly applied to pharmaceutical companies using these Indexes in Phase II and Phase III studies. Please contact the authors concerning this. The charge per subject is as follows: UK: £5
USA and rest of world: $9.50 (Plus exchange rate at the time of invoicing)
Payment should be made after receipt of an invoice from the Cardiff University School of Medicine.
Basra MKA, Sue-Ho R, Finlay AY. The Family Dermatology Life Quality Index; measuring the secondary impact of skin disease. Br J Dermatol 2007; 156: 528-538.
Erratum: British Journal of Dermatology 2007; 156: 791 (Correct FDLQI given here).
Basra M K A, Finlay A Y. The family impact of skin diseases: the greater patient concept. Br J Dermatol 2007; 156: 929-937.