The Dermatitis Family Impact Questionnaire (DFI) was written by M S Lewis-Jones and A Y Finlay and first published in 1998 (copyright 1995). This guide explains who it is for, how it is scored, what the scores mean, the research behind it, and how to get it and license it.
The short answer
The Dermatitis Family Impact Questionnaire (DFI) measures how much having a child with atopic dermatitis affects the quality of life of adult family members. It is for adults (16+) with a child up to 15 years 11 months with atopic dermatitis, has 10 questions, asks about one week, and gives a total score from 0. Cardiff states that no validated score bands have been published yet.
Table of Contents
How the DFI is scored
Each answer is scored as follows: Very much 3, A lot 2, A little 1, Not at all 0. The answers are added together to give a total from 0. Higher scores mean a bigger impact on quality of life.
Respondents should complete it on their own, without being guided towards any answer, and the score numbers must not be printed next to the answer options. Under Cardiff’s general guidance, a questionnaire with one unanswered question can still be scored, but two or more unanswered questions make it invalid.
Who the DFI is for
Adults (16+) with a child up to 15 years 11 months with atopic dermatitis.
Authors: M S Lewis-Jones and A Y Finlay. First published: 1998 (copyright 1995). Original paper: Lawson V, Lewis-Jones MS, Finlay AY, Reid P, Owens RG. Br J Dermatol 1998;138:107-113.
Copyright statement: © M.S. Lewis-Jones, A.Y. Finlay, 1995. By agreement, Cardiff University now owns and administers the copyright.
Research and validation
- Review of measurement properties (Dodington SR et al. Br J Dermatol 2013;169:31-46)
- Further validation with IDQOL (Beattie PE, Lewis-Jones MS. Br J Dermatol 2006;155:1249-1255)
How to get the DFI and when you need a licence
Patients and clinicians can use the DFI, in any available language, for routine clinical care without a licence and at no charge. It can be downloaded from Cardiff University’s DFI page. Data collected as part of routine care can also be analysed and published without a licence.
Students need a free licence, which must be requested by a member of staff at their institution, usually the research or medical supervisor, through Cardiff’s online form. A separate licence is needed for each questionnaire.
Any other use, such as a research study, needs a licence first. Cardiff charges per patient: £18 in the UK and $26 (USD) in the rest of the world, with VAT possibly payable in the UK and EU. The charge is based on the number of patients the questionnaire is given to, including everyone screened.
The wording, format and question order cannot be changed. Electronic versions need Cardiff’s formal permission, and the copyright statement must stay visible.
Related questionnaires
The DFI is one of a family of quality-of-life measures developed at Cardiff University. See the full guide to dermatology quality of life questionnaires, or the individual guides: DLQI · CDLQI · FDLQI · IDQOL · CADI · PDI.
Frequently asked questions
What does the DFI measure?
Who is the DFI for?
How is the DFI scored?
Is the DFI free to use?