Eczema or atopic dermatitis affects every fifth child and tenth adult. Patients’ feedback and self-reports on eczema control are essential. They are vital in developing practical and long-term treatments. This study aimed to create a tool or methodology to measure eczema control accurately. The control factors include symptomatic changes, disease management, treatment modality, psychological, social, and physical functioning.
The tool underwent development with the help of patients, caregivers, experts, and healthcare professionals. A mixed-method approach helped select items, refine the framework, test the distribution, and construct a final, validated scale. Data collection took place through using panel meetings, online surveys, focus groups, and cognitive interviews. The focus group, seminar, and online survey had 6, 13, and 330 participants respectively. Researchers used multivariable linear regression to select the relevant items.
Fourteen experts produced a 7-item questionnaire called RECAP. This instrument recaptures eczema control using self-reports and caregiver feedback. The development process took care of the validity and feasibility of content. Initial testing endorsed construct validity and negated floor or ceiling effects. It also confirmed the hypothesized correlation with patient-oriented eczema measures. The correlation coefficients calculation was as follows:
r(258) = 0.83 with P< 0.001.
RECAP is a potent tool for improving the measurement of eczema control in research and clinical practices. The metrics, however, have to get further explored, modified, and refined.
Ref: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjd.19357
