title: Home phototherapy: report on a workshop of the British Photodermatology Group, December 1996.
abstract: Phototherapy is a popular and effective treatment for many patients with skin diseases. However, repeated journeys to hospital for phototherapy can be inconvenient and expensive. If it were available, many patients might prefer home-based phototherapy as long as it was safe and effective. Indeed, many psoriasis patients already self-treat with ultraviolet A sunbeds at home. This report represents a consensus view from a British Photodermatology Group workshop held in December 1996, the purpose of which was to examine the potential role of home-based phototherapy in dermatological practice. We conclude that home-based therapy represents a suboptimal treatment with greater attendant risks than phototherapy in a hospital environment. The level of medical supervision of the home treatment is crucial to its safety and effectiveness. Until further studies are forthcoming, home phototherapy should be largely restricted to those with overwhelming difficulties in attending hospital.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Sarkany
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anstey
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Diffey
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jobling
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Langmack
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McGregor
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moseley
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Norris
mesh_terms: D006699:Home Care Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D010789:Phototherapy; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000628:therapy; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*