A comparison study of outcome measures for epidermolysis bullosa: Epidermolysis Bullosa Disease Activity and Scarring Index (EBDASI) and the Instrument for Scoring Clinical Outcomes of Research for Epidermolysis Bullosa (iscorEB).

BACKGROUND: The success of clinical trials in Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is dependent upon the availability of a valid and reliable scoring tool that can accurately assess and monitor disease severity. The Epidermolysis Bullosa Disease Activity and Scarring Index (EBDASI) and Instrument for Scoring Clinical Outcomes of Research for Epidermolysis Bullosa (iscorEB) were independently developed and validated against the Birmingham Epidermolysis Bullosa Severity Score but have never been directly compared. OBJECTIVE: To compare the reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity of the EBDASI and iscorEB scoring tools. METHODS: An observational cohort study was conducted in 15 patients with EB. Each patient was evaluated using the EBDASI and iscorEB-clinician scoring tools by 6 dermatologists with expertise in EB. Quality of life was assessed using the iscorEB-patient and Quality of Life in EB measures. RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficients for interrater reliability were 0.942 for the EBDASI and 0.852 for the iscorEB-clinician. The intraclass correlation coefficients for intrarater reliability was 0.99 for both scores. The two tools demonstrated strong convergent validity with each other. CONCLUSION: Both scoring tools demonstrate excellent reliability. The EBDASI appears to better discriminate between EB types and disease severities.

Restructuring an academic dermatology practice during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is a highly virulent positive-sense single stranded RNA virus that spreads rapidly via respiratory droplets, causing severe acute respiratory syndromes with significant mortality and morbidity. Currently 210 countries and territories are affected around the world with a reported 2.6 million confirmed cases. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has changed the way patients attend their specialist appointments and receive medical care. While some specialist clinics have closed we have implemented strategies and restructured our academic practice in Australia to minimize the spread of disease while treating patients who need urgent care. We hope to share these strategies in the hope they may be useful to the dermatology community.