THE PSYOCHOMETRIC properties of the Scleroderma Skin Questionnaire (SSQ), a novel patient-reported outcome (PRO) designed to assess skin disease in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), has been evaluated in a new study. The findings, based on data from 799 adults in the SSc Collaborative National Quality and Efficacy Registry (CONQUER), indicate that the SSQ is a reliable and valid tool for capturing skin symptoms associated with SSc.
The SSQ demonstrated high internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.90 and McDonald’s omega total (ωt) of 0.92. Its correlations with established measures further support its validity, showing a moderate correlation with the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) (r = 0.56) and stronger correlations in diffuse (r = 0.54) compared to limited cutaneous subtypes (r = 0.24). Additionally, the SSQ was strongly correlated with Health Assessment Questionnaire severity scores (r = 0.62-0.63) and pain interference subscales from the 29-item Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-29) (r = 0.61).
Interestingly, while the SSQ effectively captured static skin disease severity, its ability to detect changes over time was limited. The study found that the six-month recall version (SSQ 6-Month) correlated only weakly with actual six-month changes in mRSS (r = 0.26), suggesting that while SSQ is a valuable tool for assessing current symptoms, it may be less reliable for tracking progression.
The results provide initial validation of the SSQ as a standardized approach to assessing skin involvement in SSc, with potential applications in both clinical and research settings. Further studies are needed to determine its responsiveness to disease progression and treatment effects over time.
Reference: Min Yu J et al. Psychometric Evaluation of the Scleroderma Skin Questionnaire: A Novel Patient-Reported Outcome for Skin Disease in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis. Int J Rheumatol. 2025;52(3).
Anaya Malik | AMJ
