Patient experiences with oily skin: The qualitative development of content for two new patient reported outcome questionnaires

Abstract

Objective: To develop the content for two new patient reported outcome (PRO) measures to: a) assess the severity of symptoms; and b) the impact of facial skin oiliness on emotional wellbeing using qualitative data from face to face, and internet focus groups in Germany and the US. Methods:Using input from initial treatment satisfaction focus groups (n = 42), a review of relevant literature and expert clinicians (n = 3), a discussion guide was developed to guide qualitative inquiry using Internet focus groups (IFGs). IFGs were conducted with German (n = 26) and US (n = 28) sufferers of oily skin. Questionnaire items were generated using coded transcript data from the focus groups. Cognitive debriefing was conducted online with 42 participants and face to face with an additional five participants to assess the comprehension of the items.Results: There were equal numbers of male and female participants; mean age was 35.4 (SD 9.3) years. On average, participants had had oily skin for 15.2 years, and 74% (n = 40) reported having mild-moderate acne. Participants reported using visual, tactile and sensory (feel without touching their face) methods to evaluate the severity of facial oiliness. Oily facial skin had both an emotional and social impact, and was associated with feelings of unattractiveness, selfconsciousness, embarrassment, irritation and frustration. Items were generated for a measure of oily skin severity (Oily Skin Self-Assessment Scale) and a measure of the impact of oily skin on emotional well-being (Oily Skin Impact Scale). Cognitive debriefing resulted in minor changes to the draft items and confirmed their face and content validity. Conclusion:The research provides insight into the experience of having oily skin and illustrates significant difficulties associated with the condition. Item content was developed for early versions of two PRO measures of the symptoms and emotional impact of oily facial skin. The psychometric validation of these measures reported elsewhere.

Oily Skin: An Overview

“…In the symmetrical sweating site, oiliness was prominent. According to them, the clinical impression of oiliness would not be a reliable index of surface lipids (this could explain the differences observed between the Sebumeter measurements and the subjective questionnaire results obtained by Arbuckle et al [1]). The presence of sweat would impart the clinical appearance of oiliness.…”

“…Arbuckle and colleagues [1,2] developed and validated the content of two questionnaires focusing on the patients’ self-assessment of skin oiliness. The first one, the ‘Oily Skin Self-Assessment Scale’ (OSSAS), measures facial oily skin severity and consists of three questionnaires that assess subjects’ oily facial skin through visual perception of oily skin, tactile perception of oily skin and sensation of oily skin questions.…”

“…It can negatively affect the patients’ self-image and have detrimental psychosocial effects. Many individuals feel embarrassed and annoyed with the appearance of their oily skin, and the unpleasant feeling of uncleanness is also a source of complaint [1,2,3]. …”

The Composition and Development of Moisturizers

“…The skin is a sensory organ, and this plays an important role in self-perception of skin quality [ 100 ] . From Sect.…”

Grupos Focais Online e Pesquisa em Psicologia: Revisão de Estudos Empíricos entre 2001 e 2011

“…Dez artigos referiram recrutamento realizado por outros meios que não a internet; oito referiram recrutamento por meios variados, como internet e telefone, por exemplo. No caso da pesquisa de Arbuckle et al (2008) com pacientes que tinham pele oleosa, o recrutamento incluiu anún-cios no jornal e na internet, bem como a procura de possíveis participantes em grupos de pacientes de dermatologistas. Os autores optaram pela variedade nos modos de recrutamento, dada a necessidade de garantir que a amostra contasse tanto com pessoas que estivessem consultando um médico por causa da sua pele oleosa quanto com pessoas com pele oleosa sem acompanhamento médico.…”