A systematic review of the effectiveness of educational interventions for promoting quality of life among people with chronic inflammatory skin conditions

Pickett, Karen, Loveman, Emma and Frampton, Geoff (2015) A systematic review of the effectiveness of educational interventions for promoting quality of life among people with chronic inflammatory skin conditions. The British Psychological Society (BPS) Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference, London, United Kingdom. 15 - 17 Sep 2015.

Abstract

Purpose: we conducted a systematic review of the effectiveness of educational interventions for promoting health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among people with chronic inflammatory skin conditions. Here, we focus on whether the interventions evaluated were theory-based and developed and evaluated in line with the Medical Research Council (MRC) guidance on complex interventions.

Background: people with chronic inflammatory skin conditions can experience poor HRQoL. Patient education has been proposed as a way of improving their quality of life.

Methods: we searched 12 electronic databases and other literature sources. To be included in the review, studies needed to be randomised controlled trials of educational interventions for people with chronic inflammatory skin diseases and/or their carers, which either aimed to or could improve HRQoL, and which reported HRQoL as an outcome. Searches identified 2631 references, and seven RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Data were narratively synthesised.

Conclusions: the studies showed inconsistent effects of education on HRQoL in eczema, psoriasis and acne. Only three studies reported the intervention’s theoretical basis (social cognitive theory in two studies and another incorporated behaviour change techniques). There was limited incorporation of other aspects of MRC guidance. Overall we conclude that studies and intervention developers need to specify and report the intervention’s aims, theoretical basis and how it might change outcomes (e.g. improvement of HRQoL through patient activation, increased coping with stress or reducing appearance concerns). As many of the studies screened did not report the intervention’s aim, it was challenging to determine if they met the inclusion criteria

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Contributors

Author: Karen Pickett

Author: Geoff Frampton

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