Patient-reported questionnaires are underused in atopic dermatitis and chronic urticaria

Published online April 9, 2024

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) complement physician evaluations and guide treatment decisions. They are essential for monitoring atopic dermatitis (AD) and chronic urticaria (CU) in clinical practice. While PROMs are commonly used in clinical trials, it is unclear how often they are used in office settings.

Cherrez-Ojeda et al. conducted a study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. It explores the real-world use of PROMs in AD and CU care across allergy and dermatology centers worldwide. A 53-item questionnaire on using PROMs for AD and CU was developed and distributed to physicians across 73 countries who treat allergic diseases to assess real-world use. These were mainly physicians who work at specialized centers (e.g., Urticaria Centers of Reference and Excellence Network, Atopic Dermatitis Centers of Reference and Excellence, and Angioedema Centers of Reference and Excellence Network)

Although PROMs offer several benefits, Cherrez-Ojeda et al. found that their use in routine practice is suboptimal, and physicians perceive barriers, the most common of which are time constraints and the belief that patients dislike PROMs. Only half of the physicians (n=1308/2534) were aware of PROMs, and only 15% used PROMs for AD and/or CU. Dermatologists, female physicians, and younger individuals were more likely to use PROMs. Overall, physicians who use AD and/or CU PROMs would like training in selecting the proper PROM. To attain greater levels of incorporation of PROMs into standard clinical practice, it is essential to have more extensive medical education programs developed by national and international societies.

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice is an official AAAAI journal focusing on practical information for practicing clinicians.

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