Validation of Quality of Life Instruments for acne involving face and torso; and for hidradenitis suppurativa

The goal of this project is to provide evidence of validity for two newly developed measures of quality of life; one for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and one for acne. Both HS and acne negatively impact quality of life; however, to date, there are no disease-specific, patient-centered quality of life measures. The results of this project will provide healthcare professionals with tools to assess the impact of these conditions and their treatments (HS and acne) on patients’ quality of life.

Exploring the lives of women with acne (acne and gender-based violence; acne inversa and sexual health)

Intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence (SV) are unfortunately common occurrences in women’s lives. Women with a disability are at higher risk of these experiences. Disabilities such as depression have been researched and we now turn our attention to a condition that has not been researched: acne.

Development of a Patient Aid for Grading of Acne Severity and a Comprehensive Acne Quality of Life Instrument (CompAQ) for Acne Patients

The overall objective of this work is to gain a better understanding of the experience of patients living with acne and how to support their decision making process in terms of acne treatment options. This research will investigate issues surrounding how patients understand how to accurately determine the severity of their acne and the treatment options available to them. From this, an effective patient aid will be developed to inform and support patient’s decision-making process when seeking treatment.