Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI)

This score is in many ways similar to the DLQI, but it is designed for use in children, i.e. those between the ages of 5 and 16. It is available in both text and cartoon versions, and can be completed by the child with the help of their parent or guardian. The scoring is slightly different from the DLQI in that the score is expressed as a percentage of the total score of 30, the higher the score, the more affected is the quality of life (Lewis-Jones & Finlay, 1995). An Infant DLQI is also available for completion by parents or carers, devised by the same authors (Lewis-Jones et al., 2001).
Once again, more detailed analysis of the scoring can be gained by looking at the themes (see Box 6.6)

Box 6.6 Break down of CDLQI score Questions 1 and 2 relate to symptoms and feelings with a maximum score of 6 Questions 4, 5 and 6 relate to leisure with a maximum score of 9 Question 7 relates to school and holidays with a maximum score of 3 Question 3 and 8 relate to personal relationships with a maximum score of 6 Question 9 relates to sleep with a maximum score of 3 Question 10 relates to treatment with a maximum score of 3

The CDLQI assessment tool is available at www.dermatology.org.uk and can be used free of charge in clinical situations. Further discussion is given in Eczema.