title: European EADV network on assessment of severity and burden of Pruritus (PruNet): first meeting on outcome tools.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic pruritus is a frequently occurring symptom of various dermatoses that causes a high burden and impaired quality of life. An effective anti pruritic therapy is important for the patient, but its effectiveness is difficult to evaluate. Diverse methods and interpretations of pruritic metrics are utilized in clinical trials and the daily clinical practice in different countries, resulting in difficulties comparing collected data.
  
  
  METHODS
  We founded a European Network on Assessment of Severity and Burden of Pruritus (PruNet) that is supported by the EADV. PruNet consists of 28 experts from 15 EU countries (21 dermatologists, 5 medical informaticists, 2 psychologists) and aims to unify the assessment of itch in routine dermatological care. Following a preliminary survey, a consensus conference was held in order to agree upon the prioritization of patient-reported outcome tools.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Through utilizing the Delphi method, it was agreed that tools for measuring itch intensity (ex. the visual analogue scale) and quality of life (ex. ItchyQoL) are of primary importance and should urgently be foremost validated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The validation and harmonization of standards are needed for the improvement of quality care for patients suffering from pruritic dermatoses. This summer, the first validation studies in several EADV member countries already began.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Competence Center for Chronic Pruritus, University Hospital of Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ständer
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Competence Center for Chronic Pruritus, University Hospital of Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zeidler
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Competence Center for Chronic Pruritus, University Hospital of Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Riepe
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Competence Center for Chronic Pruritus, University Hospital of Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steinke
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Informatics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fritz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Informatics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bruland
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Informatics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Soto-Rey
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Informatics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Storck
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Agner
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Augustin
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blome
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dalgard
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A W M
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Evers
authors.affiliation: Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milano, Lombardy, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garcovich
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonçalo
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Legat
authors.affiliation: Royal Free London and St John's Institute of Dermatology, Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leslie
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Brest, Brest, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Misery
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Raap
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reich
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Şavk
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kantonsspital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Streit
authors.affiliation: Cutaneous Allergy Unit, Department of Dermatology, Hospital Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Serra-Baldrich
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szepietowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital of Lund, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wallengren
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weisshaar
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Informatics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: M
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authors.lastname: Dugas
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index