Home Phototherapy Improves Access to Dermatologic Care: A Novel Stakeholder Alliance to Facilitate Its Implementation

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographics and Clinical Features of Study Cohort^a

Variable	All (N = 63)	Survey Respondents (N = 43)	Non-Responders (N = 20)	p-value^b
Sex, n (%)				0.4045
Male	23 (36.5)	14 (32.6)	9 (45.0)
Female	40 (63.5)	29 (67.4)	11 (55.0)
Race, n (%)
White	56 (88.9)	41 (95.3)	15 (75.0)
Black	2 (3.2)	0	2 (10.0)
Other^c	4 (6.3)	2 (4.7)	2 (10.0)
Unknown	1 (1.6)	0	1 (5.0)
Age at diagnosis (years)				0.2620
Mean (SD)	38.2 (17.3)	40.1 (18.6)	34.7 (14.3)
Min/Max	7/73	9/73	7/57
Disease, n (%)				0.3625
Psoriasis	35 (55.6)	23 (53.5)	12 (60.0)
Atopic dermatitis	14 (22.2)	11 (25.6)	3 (15.0)
Other^d	14 (22.2)	9 (20.9)	5 (25.0)
Type of phototherapy used				>0.9999
UVA	2 (3.2)	2 (4.7)	0
UVB	61 (96.8)	41 (95.3)	20 (100.0)

Notes: ^aData was analyzed using GraphPad Prism 9.2.0. with Chi-square tests and Fisher’s exact tests for categorical data and unpaired t-tests for continuous data. ^bp < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. ^cIncludes Hispanic/Latino and Asian. ^dIncludes, vitiligo, lichen planus, lichen sclerosus, and dermatitis.

Table 2 Disease Course and Experiences of Survey Respondents (N = 43)

Variable	Frequency
Concomitant treatments at time of initiation of home phototherapy, n (%)
Topical steroids	30 (69.8)
Topical non-steroidal medications	23 (53.5)
Non-biologic immunosuppressants	5 (11.6)
Biologic immunosuppressants	10 (23.3)
BSA prior to initiating home phototherapy, mean (SD)	15.8 (16.3)
Previously used in-office phototherapy, n (%)	13 (30.2)
Are you still using your phototherapy device? n (%)
Yes	30 (69.8)
No	13 (30.2)
Frequency of device use in days per week, n (%)
0	13 (30.2)
1 to 2	9 (20.9)
3 to 4	21 (48.8)
>4	0
Perceived Global Impression of Severity, mean (SD)^a	2.72 (1.16)
Since starting phototherapy, do you feel your skin problem has:
Improved, n (%)	38 (88.4)
Not changed, n (%)	4 (9.3)
Worsened, n (%)	1 (2.3)
Skindex-Mini: during the past week, how often have you been:^b
Bothered by symptoms of your skin problem, mean (SD)	2.98 (1.85)
Emotionally bothered by your skin problem, mean (SD)	2.12 (2.14)
Bothered by effects of your skin problem on your activities, mean (SD)	1.58 (1.94)
Experienced side effects from phototherapy since last visit, n (%)	8 (18.6)
Burn	5 (11.6)
Gastrointestinal side effects^c	2 (4.7)
Erythema	1 (2.3)
Other	1 (2.3)
Reasons for selecting home instead of in-office phototherapy, n (%)
Convenience/time saved	32 (74.4)
Distance to clinic	12 (27.9)
Cost/lower co-pay	10 (23.3)
Work/household responsibilities	9 (20.9)
Privacy	6 (14.0)
COVID-19 related concerns	6 (14.0)
Likelihood of recommending home phototherapy to others, mean (SD)^d	8.84 (2.18)

Notes: ^aPerceived Global Impression of Severity was graded on a scale of 1 to 5 (1: clear, to 5: severe). ^bSkindex-Mini was graded on a scale of 1 to 6 (1: never, to 6: always). ^cBoth of these patients described side effects from psoralen for PUVA. ^dLikelihood of recommending home phototherapy was graded on a scale of 0 to 10 (0: not at all, to 10: highly).