Patient-oriented SCORAD: a self-assessment score in atopic dermatitis. A preliminary feasibility study

The SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index is used worldwide to assess the severity of atopic eczema. Patient involvement in the treatment process is of major current interest. There are very few validated patient self-assessment tools for atopic dermatitis (AD).

To develop a self-assessment score for AD patients, the patient-oriented SCORAD (PO-SCORAD) based on the SCORAD index, and to assess its acceptability in a pilot study.

A multicenter working group decided on the initial form of the PO-SCORAD. A prospective, single-center pilot study was then carried out to assess its acceptability and validity. A SCORAD and a PO-SCORAD were applied at baseline and after 18 days; the acceptability of the tool was assessed by questionnaire, its validity by comparing SCORAD and PO-SCORAD on both visits.

The study involved 15 children and 18 adults. 80% of the respondents found the questions clear and the form easy to fill in; 96% spent less than 10 min on it. A correlation was found between the SCORAD and the PO-SCORAD.

This study shows that self-assessment is feasible in AD, and that there is a correlation between the physician and the patient scores. This study was the first step in validating the PO-SCORAD.