Daylight Photodynamic Therapy: At-Home Delivery.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Photomedicine
• Medical Device Design

Background:

• Daylight photodynamic therapy (dPDT) is effective for superficial actinic keratoses (AKs).
• The dPDT@home kit was developed to enhance patient convenience and accessibility for AK treatment.
• This kit aims to reduce hospital visits and enable timely treatment aligned with weather conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the design, usability, and practicality of the dPDT@home kit.
• To assess patient experience and convenience in managing actinic keratoses at home.
• To gather preliminary data on the feasibility of home-based dPDT.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involving 16 patients with facial or scalp AKs.
• Patients conducted two dPDT@home treatments approximately three weeks apart.
• Questionnaires were administered post-treatment (Q1) and 3-6 months later (Q2) to assess experience and outcomes.

Main Results:

• All patients found the kit and pro-drug easy to use (Q1).
• 81.25% of patients expressed high willingness (8.9/10) to reuse the dPDT@home kit (Q2).
• Patients reported lower confidence (6.9/10) in efficacy compared to hospital-based treatments.

Conclusions:

• The dPDT@home kit is a viable option for reducing hospital visits for AK treatment.
• Comprehensive training and remote supervision are crucial for successful patient and clinician adoption.
• Further research is necessary to establish cost-efficacy, safety, and the definitive role of dPDT@home in AK management.