Assessment of vitiligo in clinical practice: a cross-sectional survey among experts

Abstract

Background: The assessment of patient-centered outcomes in clinical practice is essential for optimal care. While a core domain set (CDS) for vitiligo clinical trials was established in 2015 (CDS for trials) to standardize outcomes, no CDS currently exists for clinical practice, resulting in inconsistent assessment complicating effective disease management. Objective: This study aimed to investigate outcomes and characteristics currently assessed by vitiligo experts in clinical practice and represents one of the steps toward developing a core outcome set (COS) including outcomes and outcome measurement instruments for clinical practice. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 31 vitiligo experts from six continents. The survey consisted of 28 predefined outcomes and characteristics. Participants were given the opportunity to propose additional options, which were considered ‘generally assessed’ when assessed by ≥ 70%. Results: Six outcomes and 21 characteristics were ‘generally assessed’. The most frequently chosen outcomes included vitiligo evolution, tolerability of treatment/adverse events, followed by disease activity and vitiligo extent. Conclusion: This study shows similarities but also remarkable differences in assessed outcomes compared to the CDS for clinical trials. These results serve as a preparatory step toward developing a COS for clinical practice with the involvement of expert and non-expert dermatologists and patients.