Vitiligo Screen Tool as an Innovative Method for Diagnosing and Studying Vitiligo

Abstract

Purpose: The pathology of vitiligo is not yet well understood. Most vitiligo research relies on asking a single survey question about ‘physician-diagnosed’ vitiligo to identify study participants. This self-reporting is not sufficient and limits accurate study of vitiligo. We developed and pilot-tested the VItiligo Screening TOol (VISTO) as a means to confirm vitiligo diagnoses. This study aimed to determine whether the VISTO is a sensitive and specific instrument for detection of vitiligo in an adult population. Methods: The VISTO is a self-administered questionnaire consisting of 8 closed-ended questions that assess whether the respondent has been diagnosed with vitiligo by a healthcare provider. 140 completed questionnaires were analyzed, 43 cases and 97 controls from Brigham and Women’s Hospital outpatient dermatology clinic. Results: The pictorial question had 100% sensitivity and 99% specificity for the diagnosis of vitiligo. Answering “yes” to being diagnosed with vitiligo by a dermatologist and choosing one photographic representation of vitiligo had 95.2% sensitivity and 100% specificity for diagnosis of vitiligo. Conclusion: Based on these results, the VISTO is the first validated questionnaire that is highly sensitive and specific in identifying vitiligo among adult English speakers.