For Website queries only, please contact webmaster@nottinghameczema.org.uk
In Association with the
Current Research
The following CEBD update was received on 6 January 2006 from
Dr Kim Thomas of the Queens Medical Centre Nottingham:
Scratch meters as an outcome measure for eczema research
Dr Kim Thomas of the Queens Medical Centre Nottingham:
Scratch meters as an outcome measure for eczema research
Title: Validation of an objective measure of scratch in patients with eczema
What is the study about?
This 6-month study aims to assess the usefulness of using scratch accelerometers (scratch meters worn like a wrist watch) to record night-time scratching in children with eczema. The people taking part in the study will also be asked to say how they felt about wearing the watches.
What will happen?
18-24 children who have been seen at Queen’s Medical Centre for the treatment of their eczema are being asked to take part between January 2006 and April 2006. The children will wear the watches every night for a period of one month. The researchers will then compare the scratch scores (measured using the watches) with other commonly used ways of capturing how bad the eczema has been. This will include assessments of the skin by a doctor or nurse, questionnaires and patients’ scratch diaries.
This study will be used to assess the suitability of using nocturnal scratching as an outcome measure for future clinical trials.
Researchers
Dr Kim Thomas, Mrs Sandra Lawton, Dr Sarah Armstrong
Funding
This study is supported through a grant from Queen’s Medical Centre University Hospital NHS Trust
What is the study about?
This 6-
What will happen?
18-
Researchers
Dr Kim Thomas, Mrs Sandra Lawton, Dr Sarah Armstrong
Funding
This study is supported through a grant from Queen’s Medical Centre University Hospital NHS Trust
Posted 10 January 2006
The following CEBD update was received on 10 January 2006 from
Dr Sinead Langan of the Queens Medical Centre Nottingham:
Dr Sinead Langan of the Queens Medical Centre Nottingham:
Dr Sinead Langan is due to start a project at the University of Nottingham studying what environmental factors cause “flares” of eczema.
Environmental factors are commonly blamed for disease flares; however there is very little scientific evidence to support this.
60 Children with eczema will be invited to participate in this study. At the start of the study, their disease severity and views on what factors they are both exposed to and avoiding will be assessed. They will be given an “ibutton” (10p size device) which measures environmental factors accurately. This should be carried around by the child (or in the child’s vicinity) for the study duration. Children and their parents will also be asked to fill in a simple electronic diary (like a Game Boy) to complete every day during the study (should take 5 minutes), recording how bad the eczema is. Children will be reviewed monthly in outpatients by Dr Langan during the study to assess how severe the eczema is. We will then study the relationship between the environmental factors and disease flares using statistical techniques. This project could lead to simple, “non-drug” advice to reduce disease flares. Carers taking part will be provided with a summary of the environmental data collected by the “ibutton” at the end of the study and will receive a summary of the study conclusions.
This research is supported by the BUPA foundation and has received ethical approval from the Derbyshire Research Ethics committee.
Environmental factors are commonly blamed for disease flares; however there is very little scientific evidence to support this.
60 Children with eczema will be invited to participate in this study. At the start of the study, their disease severity and views on what factors they are both exposed to and avoiding will be assessed. They will be given an “ibutton” (10p size device) which measures environmental factors accurately. This should be carried around by the child (or in the child’s vicinity) for the study duration. Children and their parents will also be asked to fill in a simple electronic diary (like a Game Boy) to complete every day during the study (should take 5 minutes), recording how bad the eczema is. Children will be reviewed monthly in outpatients by Dr Langan during the study to assess how severe the eczema is. We will then study the relationship between the environmental factors and disease flares using statistical techniques. This project could lead to simple, “non-
This research is supported by the BUPA foundation and has received ethical approval from the Derbyshire Research Ethics committee.
Posted 10 January 2006
The following CEBD update was received on 8 November 2006 from
Dr Sinead Langan of the Queens Medical Centre Nottingham
Dr Sinead Langan of the Queens Medical Centre Nottingham
Dr Sinead Langan is doing a project at the University of Nottingham studying what environmental factors cause “flares” of eczema.
Environmental factors are commonly blamed for disease flares; however there is very little scientific evidence to support this.
60 Children with eczema will be invited to participate in this study. 20 children are participating in the study to date and more children are being recruited now. At the start of the study, their disease severity and views on what factors they are both exposed to and avoiding is assessed. They are given an “ibutton” (10p size device) which measures environmental factors accurately. This is carried around by the child (or in the child’s vicinity) for the study duration. Children and their parents will also fill in a simple electronic diary (like a Game Boy) to complete every day during the study (should take 5 minutes), recording how bad the eczema is. Children are reviewed monthly in outpatients by Dr Langan during the study to assess how severe the eczema is. We will then study the relationship between the environmental factors and disease flares using statistical techniques. This project could lead to simple, “non-drug” advice to reduce disease flares. Carers taking part will be provided with a summary of the environmental data collected by the “ibutton” at the end of the study and will receive a summary of the study conclusions.
This research is supported by the BUPA foundation and has received ethical approval from the Derbyshire Research Ethics committee.
Environmental factors are commonly blamed for disease flares; however there is very little scientific evidence to support this.
60 Children with eczema will be invited to participate in this study. 20 children are participating in the study to date and more children are being recruited now. At the start of the study, their disease severity and views on what factors they are both exposed to and avoiding is assessed. They are given an “ibutton” (10p size device) which measures environmental factors accurately. This is carried around by the child (or in the child’s vicinity) for the study duration. Children and their parents will also fill in a simple electronic diary (like a Game Boy) to complete every day during the study (should take 5 minutes), recording how bad the eczema is. Children are reviewed monthly in outpatients by Dr Langan during the study to assess how severe the eczema is. We will then study the relationship between the environmental factors and disease flares using statistical techniques. This project could lead to simple, “non-
This research is supported by the BUPA foundation and has received ethical approval from the Derbyshire Research Ethics committee.
Posted 18 November 2006
The following CEBD update was received on 8 May 2007 from Dr Karin Koller
SWET Clinical Trial Manager of the Queens Medical Centre Nottingham:
SWET Clinical Trial Manager of the Queens Medical Centre Nottingham:
What is the study about?
The aim of this 3-year study is to see if eczema can be improved by deliberately softening all the water used in the home (except at one tap in the kitchen which will supply mains water for drinking).
What will happen?
The study is recruiting 310 children between the ages of 6 months and 16 years who have moderate to severe eczema, and who live in hard water areas in Nottingham/Leicester, North London, Cambridge and the Isle of Wight. Each child will be in the study for 16 weeks. All of the homes where the children live will have a water softener installed for either 4 weeks or 12 weeks. During the 16 week study period the child’s eczema is assessed at regular hospital clinic visits (4 in total).
How can I get involved?
For further information please go to the study web site at www.swet-trial.co.uk
Researchers
The study is being led by Professor Hywel Williams and his research team at the Centre of Evidence Based Dermatology at the University of Nottingham, in collaboration with a team of water softener manufacturers led by the UK Water Treatment Association.
Funding
The study is supported by a grant from the Department of Health’s NHS Health Technology Assessment Programme.
The aim of this 3-
What will happen?
The study is recruiting 310 children between the ages of 6 months and 16 years who have moderate to severe eczema, and who live in hard water areas in Nottingham/Leicester, North London, Cambridge and the Isle of Wight. Each child will be in the study for 16 weeks. All of the homes where the children live will have a water softener installed for either 4 weeks or 12 weeks. During the 16 week study period the child’s eczema is assessed at regular hospital clinic visits (4 in total).
How can I get involved?
For further information please go to the study web site at www.swet-
Researchers
The study is being led by Professor Hywel Williams and his research team at the Centre of Evidence Based Dermatology at the University of Nottingham, in collaboration with a team of water softener manufacturers led by the UK Water Treatment Association.
Funding
The study is supported by a grant from the Department of Health’s NHS Health Technology Assessment Programme.