Development and psychometrics of the English version of the Itch Cognitions Questionnaire

Abstract

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to validate the English version of the Itch Cognition Questionnaire in a sample of patients with chronic itch due to psoriasis or atopic dermatitis. An English-language version of an instrument assessing itch-related cognitions is needed since cognitions can contribute to a worsening of itch, and chronic itch is prevalent in English-speaking counties and internationally. MethodsThe German Itch Cognitions Questionnaire was translated into English, and cognitive interviewing was conducted to finalize item wording. Internal and test-retest reliability, item discrimination, responsiveness to change, and construct, convergent, and discriminant validity were assessed in a national sample of 137 individuals with chronic itch due to atopic dermatitis or psoriasis recruited online. ResultsInternal reliability was high with Cronbach's alphas of 0.93 for the Catastrophizing subscale and 0.88-0.90 for Coping. The Pearson's correlation assessing 1-month test-retest reliability for the Catastrophizing subscale was r = 0.62 and for the Coping subscale was r = 0.61. The corrected item-total correlation revealed that items were relatively consistent with the scores for the subscales (with correlations ranging from 0.58 to 0.79), indicating very good item discrimination. Results of factor analysis, convergent and discriminant, and responsiveness to change analyses provided evidence for validity. PLOS ONEPLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10. ConclusionsThis study showed good psychometric characteristics of the English version of the Itch Cognitions Questionnaire. We suggest that future studies investigate the use of the measure in clinical practice to assist with treatment planning and outcome assessment related to itch as well as address study limitations such as sampling and replication. PLOS ONEPsychometrics of the Itch Cognitions Questionnaire PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.

A single‐arm pilot of a web‐based intervention to improve itch‐related quality of life

“…Two prior papers were published on the psychometrics of several of the scales using some of the data reported here. 4,5 Demographics Standard demographic items were administered at baseline assessed (Table 2).…”

“…The validated 20-item Itching Cognitions Questionnaire 5,8 includes reliable and valid problem-focused coping and catastrophizing subscales.…”

Mindfulness as Predictor of Itch Catastrophizing in Patients With Atopic Dermatitis: Results of a Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study

“…The Itch Cognitions Questionnaire ( 22 , 23 ) was used to measure itch catastrophizing. Participants were asked to rate the frequency of thoughts they had regarding itch over the past 2 weeks, for example “ The itching will get worse and worse .” The questionnaire consists of 20 statements measured on a five-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (thought never occurs) to 4 (the thought usually occurs) which can be combined to the two scales “itch catastrophizing” and “itch coping.” In the current study we were only interested in the scale “itch catastrophizing.”…”

“…The Itch Cognitions Questionnaire (22,23) was used to measure itch catastrophizing. Participants were asked to rate the frequency of thoughts they had regarding itch over the past 2 weeks, for example "The itching will get worse and worse."…”

“…In this context, catastrophizing refers to a negative way of thinking about the bodily symptom itch, e.g., the course or consequences of it. Such negative thoughts measured in this study are “The itching will never stop,” “I will scratch myself again until I look horrible” ( 22 ).…”