Translation and adaptation into Brazilian Portuguese of the internalized skin bias questionnaire and Assessment of internalized bias related to pigmentary dermatoses in people with pigmented skin

• Grant number: 25/11341-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Hélio Amante Miot
• Grantee: Pedro Monteiro da Rocha Ramos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Stigmas are present in society and manifest themselves in different aspects of daily life. Among them, skin diseases in visible areas, such as pigmentary dermatoses, often arouse stares and judgments, deeply impacting patients' self-esteem and emotional well-being. Many individuals, for fear of prejudice, end up isolating themselves and avoiding social interactions, which reinforces the need to promote acceptance and awareness to reduce these stigmas and humanize care.Given the significant psychosocial impacts caused by these conditions, it is important to understand how stigma affects patients' lives. The scarcity of specific studies on the subject makes research even more relevant, as it can contribute to more inclusive and empathetic medical practices.Objectives: to translate and culturally adapt the Internalized Skin Bias Questionnaire (ISBQ) into Brazilian Portuguese, validating its Brazilian version (ISBQ-BRA), in addition to exploring the stigma associated with pigmentary dermatoses in people with pigmented skin. Method: The methodology will be divided into stages: first, the questionnaire will be translated by four professionals, generating a consensual version that will undergo back-translation and approval by the original author. It will then be tested on 20 adults for language adjustments and clarity. Subsequently, it will be applied to 80 patients with visible skin diseases to validate the construct, also using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) as a concurrent validation method. Finally, the validated questionnaire will be used on 150 patients with melasma, vitiligo, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, drug-induced pigmentation and dermal macular hypermelanosis, seeking to measure and qualify the internalized stigma related to these conditions.