Eczema Trials: Quality of Life Instruments Used and Their Relation to Patient-Reported Outcomes. A Systematic Review

It is unclear which quality of life instruments have thus far been used in eczema trials. Therefore, we aimed to identify these instruments. We searched the Global Resource of Eczema Trials (GREAT) database for reports of randomized controlled trials. Information on patient-reported outcomes, particularly quality of life, was extracted from eligible studies. Two-hundred and eighty-seven full texts reporting on 303 trials and 72 abstracts were included. Of the 303 studies, 63 (20.8%) assessed quality of life and used 18 named and 4 unnamed instruments. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI), the Infants' Dermatitis Quality of Life Index (IDQOL), and the Dermatitis Family Impact (DFI) were the most common measures in adults, children, infants, and care-givers, respectively. In conclusion, only about one fifth of eczema trials include a quality of life measure as outcome. Many different instruments are used, limiting the possibilities of comparing and synthesising individual trials' findings.