An Observational Study to Assess Patient Reliability Reading MED Tests
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An observational Study To Assess patient Reliability in reading MED Tests (ASTAR)
IRAS ID
240502
Contact name
Beverly Gambles
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Photo-responsive skin disorders are often treated with UVB phototherapy. This is a complex treatment where the patient will be required to enter a phototherapy cabin and receive a dose of UVB on alternate days for a duration of 6-8 weeks. Side effects from UVB include a burning reaction (like sunburn) or photosensitivity either due to medication which the patient may be taking, or the skin condition being treated. It is important therefore that these side effects are identified before the patient commences a course of UVB phototherapy. In order to minimise side effects of treatment and maximise efficacy, an MED (minimal erythema dose) test is frequently performed on the patient prior to commencement of treatment. The MED test will determine the level of sensitivity to UVB and correctly ascertain the starting dose for the patient having UVB phototherapy Occasionally the phototherapist encounters a problem where a patients will not be able to return on the second day, either unintentionally or intentionally. If the MED test is not read within 24 hours of being performed the information from the procedure is lost and the test will have to be repeated at another time. However, it may be that with instruction the patient can read the light test themselves at home on the following day. It may also be possible for the patients who do not feel confident in accurately reading an MED test to take a photograph of the MED test site with a mobile device (such as a phone, tablet or digital camera) which is of suitable quality to capture a reasonable image of the test.
REC name
Wales REC 1
REC reference
18/WA/0162
Date of REC Opinion
3 May 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion