Identifying and appraising patient‐reported outcome measures on treatment satisfaction in acne: a systematic review*

Abstract

Background After dermatitis, acne is the next skin disease to contribute most to the burden of skin diseases worldwide. Recently, seven core outcome domains have been identified, which together form an Acne Core Outcome Set (ACORN). One of these was satisfaction with acne treatment. Objectives To identify studies that described the development of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMS), evaluated one or more measurement properties of a PROM, or evaluated the interpretability of a PROM in patients with acne regarding treatment satisfaction. Methods The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) search strategy for identifying PROMS on acne treatment satisfaction was used. We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Emcare, PsycINFO and Academic Search premier (June 2020). Study selection, data extraction and assessment of methodological quality according to COSMIN guidance were carried out independently by two authors. Results Only one study could be included, describing the development of a treatment satisfaction measure in patients with acne. The development was assessed as inadequate and data on measurement properties were lacking. Additionally, we found 188 studies reporting treatment satisfaction solely as an outcome, using a wide variety of methods, none of them standardized or validated. Conclusions We could not find a PROM on treatment satisfaction to recommend for a core outcome set in acne. There is an unmet need for a PROM on treatment satisfaction in acne that is robustly developed, designed and validated.What is already known about this topic?• Core outcome sets are consensus-based minimum outcome measures that should be reported in clinical trials of a specific disease or target condition.

Only the best instruments should be used to measure core outcomes

“… Although substantial progress has been made in developing and publishing core outcome domains for many dermatological diseases, 1 there is still a long way to go. The findings from van Zuuren et al 5 . are comparable to many other areas where many different OMIs are used for similar outcome domains with insufficient or unknown measurement properties 6–8 .…”

“…Having identified core domains is critical, but is only one step towards a complete COS. In addition to efforts to select and to define core outcome domains according to the highest methodological standards, the same attention must be paid to identify and to develop OMIs. The joint COSMIN and COMET guidance on how to best select OMIs per core domain 3 should be followed as van Zuuren et al 5 . did.…”

Patient and Public Involvement in Dermatology Research: A Review

“…Built upon the principles of collaborative working, these groups may prove transformative for research as systematic reviews frequently identify a lack of consistency around outcome sets. Through consensus, the Acne Core Outcomes Research Network (ACORN) [ 29 ] identified core domains for measurement within the context of a clinical study and noted discrepancies between patients and clinicians regarding the impact of acne [ 30 , 31 ]. ACORN is now developing novel tools where no validated measurements are currently available.…”

International Dermatology Outcome Measures (IDEOM): Report from the 2020 Annual Meeting

“…Only one study described development of an acne treatment satisfaction measure, but development was inadequate and lacking in measurement properties. The conclusion was that there is an unmet need in measurement development for treatment satisfaction in acne [24].…”