The Eczema Bathing Study: Weekly versus daily bathing for people with eczema? Protocol of an online, randomised controlled trial

Fong, Wei Chern Gavin and Howells, Laura and Muller, Ingrid and Mitchell, Eleanor J. and Baker, Arabella and Thuma, Leila and Harrison, Eleanor and Bradshaw, Lucy and Jiang, Yimin and Cowdell, Fiona and Leighton, Paul and Montgomery, Alan and Ravenscroft, Jane and Ridd, Matthew J. and Santer, Miriam and Tanaka, Reiko and Hilken, Nicholas and Swinden, Richard and Dooley, Richard and Layfield, Carron and Upton, Clare and Collins, Sophia and Davies, Firoza and Owen, Tracy and Eddis-Finbow, Mars and Patel, Devin and Putrym, Goldie and Williams, Hywel C. and Roberts, Amanda and Thomas, Kim S. (2024) The Eczema Bathing Study: Weekly versus daily bathing for people with eczema? Protocol of an online, randomised controlled trial. NIHR Open Research, 4 (63). ISSN 2633-4402

Preview

Text f2a6720f-1c7a-4c99-a843-7bdc8416dda2_13659_-_wei_chern_gavin_fong.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (1MB)

Abstract

Background
A priority setting partnership for eczema (syn atopic eczema, atopic dermatitis) has identified that bathing frequency is a key area of patient interest. However, there are nolarge, high-quality randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating this.

The Rapid Eczema Trials project is a novel programme of research that aims to deliver multiple online RCTs, using a citizen science approach. This project involves working with members of the public to co-design and conduct studies that answer questions of importance to them. The first trial to be conducted through this project is assessing the impact of bathing frequency on eczema.

Methods
This is an online, two-arm, parallel-group superiority RCT with internal pilot phase. People aged ≥1 year with eczemaliving in the United Kingdom are eligible. Exclusion criteria are: people with other types of eczema such as venous eczema, hand eczema and contact eczema; recently started a new eczema treatment; taking part in another eczema trial; Patient Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) ≤2; planning to swim more than twice a week; unable/unwilling to change bathing practices. Participants are allocated 1:1 to either the weekly bathing group (bathe 1 or 2 times a week) or the daily bathing group (bathe 6 or more times a week) for 4 weeks. The primary outcome is POEM, assessed weekly over 4 weeks. Secondary outcomes include skin specific quality of life, eczema control, itch severity, use of usual eczema treatments, proportion who achieve an improvement in POEM of ≥3 points, global change in eczema and safety outcomes. A sample of participants will also be invited to a semi-structured interview to discuss their experience. The primary comparative analysis will be according to randomised allocation regardless of actual frequency of bathing. The trial will be reported in accordance with CONSORT guidelines. The study has received ethical approval by the London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee (2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ, United Kingdom) on 11/10/2023 ( approval number: 23/PR/0899).

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	10.1186/ISRCTN12016473
Dates:	Date Event 14 October 2024 Accepted 14 October 2024 Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Atopic dermatitis, Bath, Eczema, Evidence, Personal care, Randomised controlled trial, Shower, Skin care, citizen science
Subjects:	CAH02 - subjects allied to medicine > CAH02-04 - nursing and midwifery > CAH02-04-01 - nursing (non-specific)
Divisions:	Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences > College of Nursing and Midwifery
Depositing User:	Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited:	12 Nov 2024 14:35
Last Modified:	12 Nov 2024 14:48
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/15955

Actions (login required)

View Item