title: Assessment of rosacea severity: A review of evaluation methods used in clinical trials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Novel rosacea treatments are needed. Assessment methodologies for clinical trials of rosacea treatments are not standardized and are relatively inadequate. To determine the efficacy of new treatments, a valid and reliable assessment methodology is needed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine the assessment methodologies used in clinical trials for rosacea treatments, to demonstrate the need for a valid and reliable assessment tool, and to describe the relevant properties of such a tool.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed and MEDLINE were searched for clinical trials of rosacea treatments since January 1, 1985.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 32 clinical trials met inclusion criteria. Assessment methodologies were highly variable, and standardized assessment methodologies were used in only 3 studies. The various manifestations of rosacea were assessed inconsistently.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eighteen articles could not be included as a result of lack of access to the full text.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diverse methodologies make the assessment of novel treatments and comparison of treatments difficult. A valid and reliable assessment tool is needed to properly assess novel treatments to improve the management of rosacea.
authors: Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors: Dennis
authors: D
authors: Hopkinson
authors: Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Moradi Tuchayi
authors: Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Electronic address: hos_alinia@yahoo.com.
authors: Hossein
authors: H
authors: Alinia
authors: Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Department of Pathology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Department of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors: Steven R
authors: SR
authors: Feldman
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D012393:Rosacea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: erythema; ocular rosacea; papules and pustules; phymatous rosacea; rosacea; scale; self-assessment; severity; telangiectasias; treatment