A Core Outcomes Set for Actinic Keratosis Under Study
Posted: Friday, November 22, 2019
Although several effective lesion- or field-targeted treatment options exist for actinic keratoses, reported endpoints vary, making it difficult to compare and assess the results and develop evidence-based treatment options. However, Markus V. Heppt, MD, MSc, MHBa, of the University Hospital of Munich, and colleagues are studying a multistep process aimed to develop a standardized set of endpoints for the treatment of actinic keratoses, which may improve the comparability of therapeutic options.
The investigators are planning to conduct a systematic literature search focused on effectiveness, tolerability, cosmesis, and patient satisfaction in randomized control trials to develop a comprehensive, standardized list of reported endpoints. The affected patients will participate in focus groups and structured interviews with board-certified dermatologists to capture patient- and practice-relevant endpoints.
The validation process will include a two-step Delphi procedure, an iterative process that includes a series of questionnaires that collect data from experts and patients. After the last Delphi round, a final list of core outcomes will be established following a final face-to-face consensus meeting. At the time this article was published, search queries have been established, and the project is in the literature-review phase. Title-abstract screening is currently being performed by two independent investigators.
“Our catalogue will enhance the synthesis of evidence for the future by reducing heterogeneity in outcomes between randomized control trials and hence contribute to improving the quality of research, evidence-based, and patient-centered treatment,” the authors concluded.
Disclosure: For full disclosures of the study authors, visit trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com.
