Vitiligo in the cosmetic division of the dermatovenereology outpatient clinic at Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital Surabaya, Indonesia: A study of the correlation between the Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI), patient self-esteem, and life quality

Background Skin areas that are no longer pigmented due to the loss of melanocytes characterize the inherited skin condition known as vitiligo. Patients with vitiligo may experience a decline in self-esteem and quality of life due to the condition's cosmetic effects. A particular instrument is needed to measure the quality of life in vitiligo patients in Indonesia, as the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) is a generic questionnaire for assessing the well-being of dermatology patients across the board. This study aimed to examine the relationship between the Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) and patients' self-esteem and quality of life, as measured by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Methods The VitiQol was initially cross-culturally adapted to the Indonesian language. The Indonesian version of the VitiQol was distributed to 39 vitiligo patients and the dermatology life quality index (DLQI) and Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES) at Dr. Soetomo General Hospital Surabaya in December 2021- January 2022. This study was conducted by cross-sectional analytic observation. Sociodemographic data and patient characteristics with VASI, DLQI, VitiQol, and self-esteem were analyzed. Results There is a correlation between VASI with DLQI (p=0.001) and VitiQol (p=0.001), but no correlation between VASI and self-esteem (p= 0.174). There was a significant correlation between marital status and self-esteem (p=0.002), vitiligo type with VASI score (p=0.000), vitiligo type with VitiQol score (p=0.022), vitiligo location with DLQI (p=0.009), and vitiligo location with VitiQol score (p=0.001). Conclusion There is a significant correlation between the increase in VASI and the effect of vitiligo on the patients as assessed by the DLQI and VitiQol questionnaires, and there is no effect of vitiligo on self-esteem as assessed by the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES) questionnaire.