INTERCEPT Study participants required
INTERnational Consensus on definition of SEverity and relaPse in viTiligo
The research team from the Walsall Healthcare & The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trusts and the University of Birmingham are seeking participants to take part in the INTERCEPT research study.
What is the purpose of this research study?
The study invites you to share your views about how severity (mild, moderate and severe) and relapse/flare-up in vitiligo is described. The results of their study will be used to develop an international definition of severity and relapse/flare-up in vitiligo. When professionals describe the severity of vitiligo, they currently use a definition that has been developed according to the views of healthcare professionals. The current definition has focused on depigmentation (when skin loses pigment and turns white). However, people with vitiligo are affected by it in many ways. This could include presence of other symptoms caused by vitiligo, the location of the depigmentation, skin complexion, and impacts on mental health and quality of life. The team also know that vitiligo is understood differently depending on culture. All these factors can contribute to how a person with vitiligo would experience its severity.
Related to this, there is currently no definition of relapse or flare-up that is agreed by people with vitiligo, their close friends and family, and healthcare professionals. To understand what “severity” of vitiligo and relapse/flare up means to people with vitiligo, they need to explore this with vitiligo patients and those close to them. To help them to define severity and relapse/flare-up in vitiligo, they plan to work with people with vitiligo, their close friends and family, and health care professionals to reach agreement on what is meant by these terms.
They want particularly want to understand:
- what symptoms patients and their close friends and family link with mild, moderate,
and severe vitiligo - how they describe a flare up/relapse in vitiligo.
- what information should be used to judge how treatments affect severity of vitiligo
and occurrence of flare-up/relapse.
What will taking part involve?
You will be invited to take part in either a face-to-face or online (Zoom) focus group. Each focus group will last between 1.5 to 2 hours maximum. The focus will be on how you think severity and relapse/flare-up of vitiligo should be measured. On the day of the focus group, the project will be explained to you in more detail, and you will have the opportunity to share your ideas and elaborate on the things that are important for you. The focus group will be audio and video recorded.
Will I be paid for taking part?
No. Any feedback you give will be voluntary and you will not benefit financially.
Who can participate in this study?
• People who have been diagnosed with vitiligo • Care for someone who has vitiligo (family and close friends) • Healthcare professionals
How can I take part?
If you are interested in taking part in the study, please contact the study team (j.e.jones@bham.ac.uk). The study team will then contact you to discuss further.
Please support our work! You've enjoyed 1 article this month and we hope you have found it useful. Our work is entirely funded by memberships and donations, so please consider joining our charity today and supporting our work.
Already a member? Log in
