Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Mrs LAURA HOWELLS's Outputs (39)

Measuring Atopic Eczema Control and Itch Intensity in Clinical Practice: A Consensus Statement from the Harmonising Outcome Measures for Eczema in Clinical Practice (HOME-CP) Initiative (2022)
Journal Article
Leshem, Y. A., Chalmers, J. R., Apfelbacher, C., Katoh, N., Gerbens, L. A., Schmitt, J., Spuls, P. I., Thomas, K. S., Howells, L., Williams, H. C., & Simpson, E. L. (2022). Measuring Atopic Eczema Control and Itch Intensity in Clinical Practice: A Consensus Statement from the Harmonising Outcome Measures for Eczema in Clinical Practice (HOME-CP) Initiative. JAMA Dermatology, 158(12), 1429-1435. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamadermatol.2022.4211

Importance: Measuring outcomes in clinical practice can aid patient care, quality improvement, and real-world evidence generation. The Harmonising Outcome Measures for Eczema (HOME) Clinical Practice initiative is developing a list of validated, feas... Read More about Measuring Atopic Eczema Control and Itch Intensity in Clinical Practice: A Consensus Statement from the Harmonising Outcome Measures for Eczema in Clinical Practice (HOME-CP) Initiative.

Content validity of the Recap of atopic eczema (RECAP) instrument in Dutch, English and German to measure eczema control in young people with atopic eczema: a cognitive interview study (2022)
Journal Article
Gabes, M., Ragamin, A., Baker, A., Kann, G., Donhauser, T., Gabes, D., Howells, L., Thomas, K. S., Oosterhaven, J. A., Pasmans, S. G., Schuttelaar, M. L., & Apfelbacher, C. (2022). Content validity of the Recap of atopic eczema (RECAP) instrument in Dutch, English and German to measure eczema control in young people with atopic eczema: a cognitive interview study. British Journal of Dermatology, 187(6), 919-926. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.21767

Background: Recap of atopic eczema (RECAP) is a patient-reported outcome measure assessing eczema control. This instrument has been developed and validated in the UK. There are self-reported and proxy-reported versions in English, Dutch and German. H... Read More about Content validity of the Recap of atopic eczema (RECAP) instrument in Dutch, English and German to measure eczema control in young people with atopic eczema: a cognitive interview study.

Effectiveness and safety of lotion, cream, gel, and ointment emollients for childhood eczema: a pragmatic, randomised, phase 4, superiority trial (2022)
Journal Article
Ridd, M. J., Santer, M., MacNeill, S. J., Sanderson, E., Wells, S., Webb, D., Banks, J., Sutton, E., Roberts, A., Liddiard, L., Wilkins, Z., Clayton, J., Garfield, K., Barrett, T. J., Lane, J. A., Baxter, H., Howells, L., Taylor, J., Hay, A. D., Williams, H. C., & Thomas, K. S. (2022). Effectiveness and safety of lotion, cream, gel, and ointment emollients for childhood eczema: a pragmatic, randomised, phase 4, superiority trial. Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, 6(8), 522-532. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642%2822%2900146-8

Background: To our knowledge, there are no trials comparing emollients commonly used for childhood eczema. We aimed to compare the clinical effectiveness and safety of the four main emollient types: lotions, creams, gels, and ointments. Methods: We d... Read More about Effectiveness and safety of lotion, cream, gel, and ointment emollients for childhood eczema: a pragmatic, randomised, phase 4, superiority trial.

Using the Vitiligo Noticeability Scale in clinical trials: construct validity, interpretability, reliability and acceptability (2022)
Journal Article
Batchelor, J. M., Gran, S., Leighton, P., Howells, L., Montgomery, A. A., Tan, W., Ahmed, I., & Thomas, K. S. (2022). Using the Vitiligo Noticeability Scale in clinical trials: construct validity, interpretability, reliability and acceptability. British Journal of Dermatology, 187(4), 548-556. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.21671

Background: Validated outcome measures are needed for vitiligo trials. Objectives: To assess construct validity, interpretability, reliability and acceptability of the Vitiligo Noticeability Scale (VNS). Methods: We used images of vitiligo before and... Read More about Using the Vitiligo Noticeability Scale in clinical trials: construct validity, interpretability, reliability and acceptability.

Treatment of Hidradenitis Suppurativa Evaluation Study (THESEUS): protocol for a prospective cohort study (2022)
Journal Article
Bates, J., Stanton, H., Cannings-John, R., Thomas, K. S., Leighton, P., Howells, L. M., Rodrigues, J., Howes, R., Collier, F., Harris, C., Gibbons, A., Thomas-Jones, E., Hood, K., & Ingram, J. R. (2022). Treatment of Hidradenitis Suppurativa Evaluation Study (THESEUS): protocol for a prospective cohort study. BMJ Open, 12(4), Article e060815. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-060815

Background Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, painful, inflammatory skin disease with estimates of prevalence in the European population of 1%–2%. Despite being a relatively common condition, the evidence base for management of HS is limited... Read More about Treatment of Hidradenitis Suppurativa Evaluation Study (THESEUS): protocol for a prospective cohort study.

The HOME Core outcome set for clinical trials of atopic dermatitis (2022)
Journal Article
Williams, H. C., Schmitt, J., Thomas, K. S., Spuls, P. I., Simpson, E. L., Apfelbacher, C. J., Chalmers, J. R., Furue, M., Katoh, N., Gerbens, L. A., Leshem, Y. A., Howells, L., Singh, J. A., & Boers, M. (2022). The HOME Core outcome set for clinical trials of atopic dermatitis. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 149(6), 1899-1911. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2022.03.017

Core outcome sets are critically important outcomes that should be measured in clinical trials. Their absence in atopic dermatitis is a form of research waste and impedes combining evidence to inform patient care. Here, we articulate the rationale fo... Read More about The HOME Core outcome set for clinical trials of atopic dermatitis.

Strategies for using topical corticosteroids in children and adults with eczema (2022)
Journal Article
Lax, S., Harvey, J., Axon, E., Howells, L., Santer, M., Ridd, M., Lawton, S., Langan, S., Roberts, A., Ahmed, A., Muller, I., Ming, L. C., Panda, S., Chernyshov, P., Carter, B., Williams, H., Thomas, K., & Chalmers, J. (2022). Strategies for using topical corticosteroids in children and adults with eczema. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 3(3), Article CD013356

Background Eczema is a common skin condition. Although topical corticosteroids (TCS) have been a first-line treatment for eczema for decades, there are uncertainties over their optimal use. Objectives To establish the effectiveness and safety of diff... Read More about Strategies for using topical corticosteroids in children and adults with eczema.

How has the COVID‐19 pandemic affected eczema self‐management and help seeking? A qualitative interview study with young people and parents/carers of children with eczema (2021)
Journal Article
Steele, M., Howells, L., Santer, M., Sivyer, K., Lawton, S., Roberts, A., Teasdale, E., Muller, I., & Greenwell, K. (2021). How has the COVID‐19 pandemic affected eczema self‐management and help seeking? A qualitative interview study with young people and parents/carers of children with eczema. Skin Health and Disease, 1(4), Article e59. https://doi.org/10.1002/ski2.59

Background
Eczema can have a considerable impact on quality of life. Treatments can improve this, but management is complex. Barriers to eczema self-management may be impacted upon by environmental context, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectiv... Read More about How has the COVID‐19 pandemic affected eczema self‐management and help seeking? A qualitative interview study with young people and parents/carers of children with eczema.

Thematic synthesis of the experiences of people with hidradenitis suppurativa: a systematic review* (2021)
Journal Article
Howells, L., Lancasterm, N., McPheem, M., Bundy, C., Ingram, J. R., Leighton, P., Henaghan‐Sykes, K., & Thomas, K. S. (2021). Thematic synthesis of the experiences of people with hidradenitis suppurativa: a systematic review*. British Journal of Dermatology, 185(5), 921-934. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.20523

Background: Although hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is known to affect quality of life, little summative knowledge exists on how HS impacts people living with the condition. Objectives: To synthesize experiences of people with HS within published qual... Read More about Thematic synthesis of the experiences of people with hidradenitis suppurativa: a systematic review*.

Do patient characteristics matter when calculating sample size for eczema clinical trials? (2021)
Journal Article
Howells, L., Gran, S., Chalmers, J. R., Stuart, B., Santer, M., Bradshaw, L., Gaunt, D. M., Ridd, M. J., Gerbens, L. A. A., Spuls, P. I., Huang, C., Francis, N. A., & Thomas, K. S. (2021). Do patient characteristics matter when calculating sample size for eczema clinical trials?. Skin Health and Disease, 1(3), Article e42. https://doi.org/10.1002/ski2.42

Background: The Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) is the core outcome instrument recommended for measuring patient-reported atopic eczema symptoms in clinical trials. To ensure that the statistical significance of clinical trial results is meani... Read More about Do patient characteristics matter when calculating sample size for eczema clinical trials?.

Measurement properties of patient‐reported outcome measures for eczema control: a systematic review (2021)
Journal Article
Stuart, B., Howells, L., Pattinson, R., Chalmers, J., Grindlay, D., Rogers, N., Grinich, E., Pawlitschek, T., Simpson, E., & Thomas, K. (2021). Measurement properties of patient‐reported outcome measures for eczema control: a systematic review. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 35(10), 1987-1993. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.17335

Atopic eczema (herein referred to as ‘eczema’) is a skin disease characterized by remitting and relapsing symptoms. The Harmonising Outcome Measures for Eczema (HOME) initiative was developed to establish a core outcome set (COS) for eczema to be mea... Read More about Measurement properties of patient‐reported outcome measures for eczema control: a systematic review.

Supporting self-care for eczema: protocol for two randomised controlled trials of ECO (Eczema Care Online) interventions for young people and parents/carers (2021)
Journal Article
Muller, I., Stuart, B., Sach, T., Hooper, J., Wilczynska, S., Steele, M., Greenwell, K., Sivyer, K., Yardley, L., Williams, H. C., Chalmers, J. R., Leighton, P., Howells, L. M., Ridd, M. J., Lawton, S., Griffiths, G., Nuttall, J., Langan, S. M., Roberts, A., Ahmed, A., …Santer, M. (2021). Supporting self-care for eczema: protocol for two randomised controlled trials of ECO (Eczema Care Online) interventions for young people and parents/carers. BMJ Open, 11(2), Article e045583. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045583

Introduction Eczema care requires management of triggers and various treatments. We developed two online behavioural interventions to support eczema care called ECO (Eczema Care Online) for young people and ECO for families. This protocol describes t... Read More about Supporting self-care for eczema: protocol for two randomised controlled trials of ECO (Eczema Care Online) interventions for young people and parents/carers.

The German RECAP questionnaire: linguistic validation and cognitive debriefing in German adults with self-reported atopic eczema and parents of affected children (2021)
Journal Article
Gabes, M., Tischer, C., Herrmann, A., Howells, L., & Apfelbacher, C. (2021). The German RECAP questionnaire: linguistic validation and cognitive debriefing in German adults with self-reported atopic eczema and parents of affected children. Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes, 5(1), Article 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41687-021-00285-2

Background
Recap of atopic eczema (RECAP) is a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) assessing eczema control. Long-term control of eczema is one of the four core outcome domains for atopic eczema trials. This instrument has been recently develope... Read More about The German RECAP questionnaire: linguistic validation and cognitive debriefing in German adults with self-reported atopic eczema and parents of affected children.

Recommended core outcome instruments for health‐related quality of life, long‐term control and itch intensity in atopic eczema trials: results of the HOME VII consensus meeting (2021)
Journal Article
Thomas, K., Apfelbacher, C., Chalmers, J., Simpson, E., Spuls, P., Gerbens, L., Williams, H., Schmitt, J., Gabes, M., Howells, L., Stuart, B., Grinich, E., Pawlitschek, T., Burton, T., Howie, L., Gadkari, A., Eckert, L., Ebata, T., Boers, M., Saeki, H., …Katoh, N. (2021). Recommended core outcome instruments for health‐related quality of life, long‐term control and itch intensity in atopic eczema trials: results of the HOME VII consensus meeting. British Journal of Dermatology, 185(1), 139-146. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.19751

Background: The Harmonising Outcome Measures for Eczema (HOME) initiative has established a core outcome set of domains for atopic eczema (AE) clinical trials. Previous consensus meetings have agreed on preferred instruments for clinician-reported si... Read More about Recommended core outcome instruments for health‐related quality of life, long‐term control and itch intensity in atopic eczema trials: results of the HOME VII consensus meeting.

Development and initial testing of a new instrument to measure the experience of eczema control in adults and children: Recap of atopic eczema (RECAP) (2019)
Journal Article
Howells, L. M., Chalmers, J. R., Gran, S., Ahmed, A., Apfelbacher, C., Burton, T., Howie, L., Lawton, S., Ridd, M. J., Rogers, N. K., Sears, A. V., Spuls, P., von Kobyletzki, L., & Thomas, K. S. (2020). Development and initial testing of a new instrument to measure the experience of eczema control in adults and children: Recap of atopic eczema (RECAP). British Journal of Dermatology, 183(3), 524-536. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.18780

Background: Eczema control has been identified as an important outcome by key stakeholders in eczema research (including patients, carers, healthcare professionals and researchers) but no validated instruments for the domain have been identified. Obj... Read More about Development and initial testing of a new instrument to measure the experience of eczema control in adults and children: Recap of atopic eczema (RECAP).

Defining and measuring " eczema control " : an international qualitative study to explore the views of those living with and treating atopic eczema (2019)
Journal Article
Howells, L., Thomas, K. S., Sears, A. V., Nasr, I., Wollenberg, A., Schuttelaar, M. L., Romeijn, G. L., Paller, A. S., Mueller, K., Doytcheva, K., Kataoka, Y., Daguze, J., Barbarot, S., Von Kobyletzki, L. B., Beckman, L., Ratib, S., Cowdell, F., Santer, M., & Chalmers, J. R. (2019). Defining and measuring " eczema control " : an international qualitative study to explore the views of those living with and treating atopic eczema. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 33(6), 1124-1132. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.15475

Background: Atopic eczema (also known as eczema) is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition that often afflicts patients’ health and wellbeing. The Harmonising Outcome Measures for Eczema (HOME) initiative recommends that “long-term control of eczema”... Read More about Defining and measuring " eczema control " : an international qualitative study to explore the views of those living with and treating atopic eczema.

How should minimally important change (MIC) scores for the Patient Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) be interpreted?: a validation using varied methods (2018)
Journal Article
Howells, L., Ratib, S., Chalmers, J., Bradshaw, L., & Thomas, K. (2018). How should minimally important change (MIC) scores for the Patient Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) be interpreted?: a validation using varied methods. British Journal of Dermatology, 178(5), https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.16367

Background

The Patient Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM), scored 0-28, is the core outcome instrument recommended for measuring patient-reported atopic eczema symptoms in clinical trials. To date, two published studies have broadly concurred that the... Read More about How should minimally important change (MIC) scores for the Patient Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) be interpreted?: a validation using varied methods.

'When it goes back to my normal I suppose': A qualitative study using online focus groups to explore perceptions of 'control' among people with eczema and parents of children with eczema in the UK (2017)
Journal Article
Howells, L. M., Chalmers, J. R., Cowdell, F., Ratib, S., Santer, M., & Thomas, K. S. (2017). 'When it goes back to my normal I suppose': A qualitative study using online focus groups to explore perceptions of 'control' among people with eczema and parents of children with eczema in the UK. BMJ Open, 7, e017731. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017731

© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Objective: To inform the development of a core outcome set... Read More about 'When it goes back to my normal I suppose': A qualitative study using online focus groups to explore perceptions of 'control' among people with eczema and parents of children with eczema in the UK.