Clinical pharmacist eczema in children study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluation of the impact on disease severity of treatment-related educational advice delivered by general practice-based clinical pharmacists to the parents/carers of children with atopic eczema: a randomised study
IRAS ID
270218
Contact name
Rod Tucker
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS foundation
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN17846245
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 27 days
Research summary
Patient education plays a key role in the successful management of atopic eczema. While Government policy supports the role of pharmacists in those with long-term conditions such as atopic eczema, there is only weak evidence that educational interventions by pharmacists can reduce the severity of eczema.
This study will investigate the impact on disease severity following an educational intervention provided by general medical practice-based, clinical pharmacists to parents/carers of children with atopic eczema. A modified Person-centred Dermatology Self-care Index (PEDESI) tool will be used by pharmacists to assess parents’/carers’ knowledge and understanding of atopic eczema and its management, following which the pharmacists will provide educational advice where appropriate. Disease severity will be measured using the Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) score at baseline.
Children aged between six months and six years of age with a diagnosis of atopic eczema, identified through searches of the general medical practice database, will be included and invited to a consultation with the clinical practice-based pharmacist. During the consultation, pharmacists will assess parent/carer's knowledge and understanding of AE and ask participants to complete a specific eczema disease severity tool. At a follow-up appointment, the pharmacists will re-check participant knowledge and understanding of eczema and repeat the eczema severity tool to assess for any changes.
In addition, telephone interviews will be conducted with a sample of parents, focusing on their views of the usefulness, acceptability and impact of the intervention.
The study has the potential to demonstrate the valuable contribution to care of patients with atopic eczema by practice-based pharmacists. If successful, the results would serve as an exemplar of best practice that can be more widely adopted within the NHS.
REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/EE/0132
Date of REC Opinion
29 Jul 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion