title: Translating Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) scores into clinical practice by suggesting severity strata derived using anchor-based methods.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) is a validated, patient-derived assessment measure for monitoring atopic eczema severity, although further information on how different POEM scores translate into disease severity categories is needed for clinical trials, epidemiological research and audit.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine the relationship between Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) scores (range 0-28) and two Global Questions (GQ1 and 2) concerning patients'/parents' views of the overall severity of their/their child's atopic eczema, in order to stratify POEM scores into five severity bands.
  
  
  METHODS
  POEM scores and GQs were completed by 300 patients from general practice and 700 patients from dermatology outpatient clinics, including 300 adults aged ≥ 16 years and 700 children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean POEM score was 13·6 (range 0-28), and standard deviation (SD) was 7·2. Mean GQ1/GQ2 scores were 2·1/2·1, respectively (range 0-4 and SD 1·1 for both). The mean, mode and median of the GQ scores for each POEM score were used to devise possible POEM bandings. The proposed banding for POEM scores are: 0-2 (clear/almost clear); 3-7 (mild); 8-16 (moderate); 17-24 (severe); 25-28 (very severe), kappa coefficient 0·46.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severity banding of the POEM will allow more clinically meaningful use in everyday clinical practice and as a core outcome measure in future atopic eczema research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Exeter, U.K.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Charman
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Venn
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ravenscroft
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
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