A Pragmatic Study on Nurse-Led Home Phototherapy

Abstract

BACKGROUND Narrowband ultraviolet phototherapy is a safe and effective treatment option for chronic skin conditions. The requirements of clinic-based phototherapy can be burdensome, with home-based phototherapy as a reasonable alternative. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to analyze the effects of a nurse-led home phototherapy program and describe the clinical resources required. METHODS A pragmatic multicenter prospective observational cohort study was conducted from 2019 to 2021. Eighteen participants were enrolled in the program and followed for 9 months. Outcome measures included clearance rates, erythema incidence, Dermatology Life Quality Index, the burden of treatment scores, dermatologic medication usage, and clinic contacts. RESULTS Fourteen of the 18 patients (77.8%) reported high skin clearance. Mild erythema was common, moderate erythema was rare, and two episodes of severe erythema were recorded overall. Dermatology Life Quality Index and burden of treatment impact were minimal. Adjunct topical medications decreased by half. Nurses successfully reached participants up to the 3-month time point, with completed contacts decreasing over time. Unplanned contacts included phone calls and emails. CONCLUSION Dermatology nurses possess the skills needed to lead safe and effective home phototherapy programs. Although this pragmatic study was small, results are optimistic for the future of nurse-led home phototherapy.