DOPPIT
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Development Of a Patient Photosensitivity Impact Tool
IRAS ID
352171
Contact name
Marese O'Reilly
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Dundee
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The concept of Realistic Medicine highlights the necessity as clinicians, to identify what is really important to our patients in order to ensure a personalised approach to patient care is achieved. Photodermatoses are a broad group of skin conditions which are caused or worsened by exposure to sunlight and as a result, pose a unique set of challenges. Levels of anxiety and depression are approximately double the British population average in photosensitive patients however there are no specific, validated quality of life tools to address their impact on quality of life. Quality of life measures are important and are routinely used in research and clinical practice to make individual treatment decisions. Therefore, a new, validated measure to comprehensively capture the impact of these conditions on the patient’s quality of life is needed to ensure that patients receive the best possible standard of care.
This study will take place over a three year period and will include three main parts. Part 1: Firstly, it will involve conducting group interviews with patients with diagnosed photosensitive conditions and staff working in the photobiology unit to ascertain the broad concepts which are important to patients and staff in the assessment of quality of life. The second stage of Part 1 will involve conducting individual interviews with photosensitive patients to further explore the impact of their condition and help inform a new model of impact. Part 2: The results of these interviews will be used to inform a Delphi Study where participants will be asked to rate the most important issues impacting their lives. These studies will inform creation of a new quality of life measure. Part 3: The new quality of life measure will then be tested in patients with a photodermatoses to ensure the content is comprehensive, relevant, acceptable and feasible for use by patients. Alongside this, the opinion of clinicians will also be obtained separately using a modified Technology Acceptance Model as practicality, usefulness, ease of completion and scoring are important features of a new tool.REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 2
REC reference
25/ES/0016
Date of REC Opinion
20 Mar 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion