Effectiveness of a novel interactive health care education tool on clinical outcomes and quality of life in acne patients: A randomized controlled pilot study

Abstract

Background: We developed an Internet-based education tool (My Personalized Application for health Care Education, MyPACE) to promote patient comprehension about acne. Objective: To determine if MyPACE improves clinical outcomes and quality of life in acne patients. Methods: Modeling the spaced education approach, 50 participants received weekly multiple-choice questions for 12 weeks. Those randomized to the intervention group received acne-related questions, while those in the control group received non-dermatologic health-related questions. Acne lesion counts and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores were recorded at initial enrollment and at 12 weeks. Results: Within-group analysis for the intervention group showed a significant mean change in inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne lesions per person (−3.2 ± 1.3, p = 0.0219; −4.4 ± 1.8, p = 0.0267, respectively). The control group only demonstrated a significant mean change in inflammatory lesions (−2.8 ± 0.80, p = 0.0040). Both groups had statistically significant improvement in DLQI score. Compared with participants in the control group, those receiving acne-related questions experienced greater improvement in clinical outcomes and quality of life. Limitations: The small sample size limited our ability to detect statistically significant differences. Conclusion: Internet-based, disease-specific, spaced education tools may be more effective than non-targeted tools for improving clinical outcomes and quality of life.

• Acne
• Internet-based education
• interactive learning
• patient education
• quality of life
• spaced education

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Ms. Negar Foolad for her assistance with this project.

Declaration of interest

This study was not funded. The authors have no relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Portions of this work have been presented at the Society for Investigative Dermatology annual meeting on May 12, 2012 (poster presentation) and at the American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting on March 2, 2013 (e-poster oral presentation). The manuscript has not been previously published and has not been submitted for publication elsewhere while under consideration.