Identifying key components for a psychological intervention for people with vitiligo - a quantitative and qualitative study in the United Kingdom using web-based questionnaires of people with vitiligo and healthcare professionals.

BACKGROUND: Psychological interventions are recommended as part of routine management of vitiligo. However, the development and effectiveness of such interventions have been rarely addressed. This study aimed to identify key components for a psychological intervention for people with vitiligo. This is the first time perspectives of people with vitiligo, and healthcare professionals (HCPs) have been directly explored to inform intervention content and delivery. OBJECTIVES: To identify 1. which psychological difficulties are highlighted that can be targeted by an intervention; 2. what is important in terms of intervention content and delivery. METHODS: Web-based questionnaires containing both quantitative and qualitative items were completed by people with vitiligo and HCPs. Questionnaires collected data from people with vitiligo on demographics, clinical features, psychological difficulties and priority areas for psychological interventions, including ideas on delivery and content. HCPs questionnaires collected data on psychological difficulties reported, use of psychological interventions and suitability within health services. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data utilized thematic framework analysis. RESULTS: A total of 100 people with vitiligo (66% female, 92% Caucasian) and 39 HCPs (54% dermatologists) participated. Key areas of difficulty were the impact of vitiligo, coping, issues with appearance/body image and the sun, and medical interactions. Vitiligo on sensitive sites was associated with more psychological impact. Interventions directed at increasing acceptance, confidence and self-esteem, as well as managing embarrassment, were important. These issues could be managed through interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness and acceptance and commitment therapy. Both people with vitiligo and HCPs favoured individual interventions. CONCLUSION: Vitiligo has significant impact, requiring ongoing psychosocial support. There is a strong need for a psychoeducational intervention with focus on acceptance and managing social impact. The results of this study are the first steps to informing the development of a patient-centred psychological intervention.

Validation of the Vitiligo Noticeability Scale: a patient-reported outcome measure of vitiligo treatment success.

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcome measures are rarely used in vitiligo trials. The Vitiligo Noticeability Scale (VNS) is a new patient-reported outcome measure assessing how 'noticeable' vitiligo patches are after treatment. The noticeability of vitiligo after treatment is an important indicator of treatment success from the patient's perspective. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the construct validity, acceptability and interpretability of the VNS. METHODS: Clinicians (n = 33) and patients with vitiligo (n = 101) examined 39 image pairs, each depicting a vitiligo lesion pre- and post-treatment. Using an online questionnaire, respondents gave a global assessment of treatment success and a VNS score for treatment response. Clinicians also estimated percentage repigmentation of lesions (< 25%; 25-50%; 51-75%; > 75%). Treatment success was defined as 'yes' on global assessment, a VNS score of 4 or 5, and > 75% repigmentation. Agreement between respondents and the different scales was assessed using kappa (κ) statistics. RESULTS: Vitiligo Noticeability Scale scores were associated with both patient- and clinician-reported global treatment success (κ = 0·54 and κ = 0·47, respectively). Percentage repigmentation showed a weaker association with patient- and clinician-reported global treatment success (κ = 0·39 and κ = 0·29, respectively). VNS scores of 4 or 5 can be interpreted as representing treatment success. Images depicting post-treatment hyperpigmentation were less likely to be rated as successful. CONCLUSIONS: The VNS is a valid patient-reported measure of vitiligo treatment success. Further validation of the VNS is required, using larger sets of clinical pre- and post-treatment images, affecting a wider range of anatomical sites.

[Heart health promotion and preventive practices of Quebec nurses working in local community health centers]. / Pratiques des infirmières des Centres locaux de services communautaires du Québec de prévention et promotion en santé du coeur.

The heart health promotion and prevention practices of nurses working in front-line services in 20 Québec CLSC's are analyzed through a qualitative (n = 47 nurses) and a quantitative approach (n = 177 nurses and n = 3802 patients). The results demonstrate that although nurses state they integrate prevention and promotion in their daily practice, patients report that nurses provide few prevention recommendations. The major challenge for prevention-promotion is to strengthen secondary prevention and, especially, integrate primary prevention and promotion in nurses' daily clinical practice.