Measurement of healthcare quality in atopic dermatitis - development and application of a set of quality indicators.

Background: Quality indicators are essential tools for the assessment of health care, in particular for guideline-based procedures.

Objective: Development of a set of indicators for the evaluation of process and outcomes quality in atopic dermatitis (AD) care. Application of the indicators to a cross-sectional study and creation of a global process quality index.

Therapeutic benefits in atopic dermatitis care from the patients' perspective: results of the German national health care study 'Atopic Health'.

Background/aims: Numerous therapies are recommended to treat atopic dermatitis. The German national health care study 'Atopic Health' generated nationwide data on the care situation from the patients' perspective.

Methods: Data for 1,678 adult patients were collected within a retrospective cohort study throughout the year 2010.

Quality of health care of atopic eczema in Germany: results of the national health care study AtopicHealth.

Background: The successful treatment of atopic eczema (AE) should result in the improvement of both physical symptoms and patient's quality of life (QoL). This study was conducted using a sample of dermatologists throughout Germany. This is due to dermatologists being the main health care providers of AE.

Drug supply for psoriasis - results from a national pharmacy network.

Background: In Germany, drugs are to a large extent provided by pharmacies. Thus, investigations in pharmacies permit drug usage studies both on patients receiving prescribable drugs and using self-medication. The current study evaluated the quality of medical care, disease burden and spectrum of treatments for patients with psoriasis in a nationwide network of pharmacies.

Allergies in Germany -- prevalence and perception by the public.

Background: During the recent decades allergies have become more frequent all over the world. However, it is unclear how important the topic of allergies is for the general German population and how appropriately patients with allergies are treated.

Patients And Methods: A telephone survey was performed on a representative random sample of n = 1,004 adults in Germany.

Prevalence of skin lesions and need for treatment in a cohort of 90 880 workers.

Background: Healthcare planning requires robust data on the prevalence and need for care of dermatological diseases. To date, no systematic data in population-based samples are available for Germany.

Objectives: Determination of the prevalence of skin lesions and of the need for care based on dermatological examinations in working adults in Germany.

Quality of life and satisfaction of patients with leg ulcers--results of a community-based study.

Background: Leg ulcers have a major socio-economic impact because of their frequency and societal costs. Patients with leg ulcers experience major Health related Quality of Life (HrQoL) impairments. The aim of the present study was to assess the disease-specific HrQoL and the influence of care on HrQoL with leg ulcer.

Efficacy, tolerability and patient benefit of ultrasound-assisted wound treatment versus surgical debridement: a randomized clinical study.

Background: Low-frequency ultrasound has been shown to be an alternative to surgical wound debridement (WD) to stimulate wound healing; however, few data are available.

Objective: To compare the efficacy, tolerability and benefit of both wound treatment methods.

Methods: A monocentric prospective randomized-controlled clinical study assessing patient-reported outcomes and clinical efficacy of ultrasound-assisted wound treatment (UAW) compared to WD.

[Health services research in dermatology. Current status].

Assessment of benefits and quality of medical healthcare treatment is becoming more and more important. In order to accurately carry out this assessment and to assure a reliable planning of health care, valid data are needed. Health services research is an interdisciplinary field of research, which provides information on disease and health care and to uncover suboptimal and incorrect services.

A new instrument for the assessment of patient-defined benefit in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common disease that affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Current and future health policy demands the assessment of patient-relevant treatment benefit for evaluation of treatments.

Methods: We developed, validated and tested a standardized instrument for the assessment of patient-relevant needs and benefits in AR.

Internet-supported gathering of treatment data and patient benefits in psoriasis.

Background: Studies about health care of psoriasis patients in Germany are predominantly carried out in dermatological centres, which results in a certain selection bias. To collect data from other sources of patients, the German Centre of Health Services Research in Dermatology conducted a series of web-based studies. The extent of how data on health care on psoriasis gathered online vary from paper and pencil data is yet to be explored.

Concordance of the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and patient-reported outcomes in psoriasis treatment.

A prospective observational study was conducted to analyze to what extent the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) is correlated to patient reported outcomes (PRO). Data were collected on 93 outpatients with psoriasis prior to (t1) and after therapy (t2). A higher PASI score was associated with impaired Quality of Life (DLQI), however associations were only weak (R = 0.

Quality of medical care of patients with acne vulgaris in Germany--nationwide survey of pharmacy clients.

Background: No empirical "real world" data on the health care of patients with acne vulgaris in Germany currently exist. The objective of this study was to get an informative basis of health care of patients with acne vulgaris in Germany, taking into account both doctor-prescribed medication and self-medication.

Patients And Methods: Surveying both medically and self-treated patients, n = 504 patients with acne vulgaris were interviewed in 48 pharmacies nationwide.

[Relationship between alcohol, drug use and traffic accidents related to nightlife among a Spanish youth sample in three autonomous communities in 2007].

Background: The phenomenon known as binge drinking and other drug abuse frequently occurs among young people in nightlife-related areas. This study analyzes the risk behaviours and the accident rate related to alcohol and other drugs among a sample of young people involved in nightlife.

Method: A total of 440 young people from 3 Spanish Autonomous Communities took part.

Does climate change affect the incidence of skin and allergic diseases in Germany?

Background: Skin diseases have great socio-economic importance in Germany due to their high and in some cases still-increasing prevalence. Little attention has yet been paid to the influence of the change in climate on these diseases.

Objective: Clarify the evidence of the effects of climate change on the prevalence of skin diseases and allergies in Germany.