Response to validity of patient‐reported outcome measures in atopic eczema/dermatitis

We welcome the critique by Apfelbacher and colleagues 1 of our overview of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMS) in allergy and asthma clinical studies in children 2. Our focus was on identifying valid instruments and in so doing we relied on our own detailed systematic reviews in relation to asthma and food allergy 3-5, recent evidence-based guidelines on PROMS in allergy 6, and systematic reviews undertaken by others in atopic eczema/dermatitis and allergic rhinitis 7. We agree that on a closer look at the primary evidence in relation to PROMs for atopic eczema/dermatitis, whilst there is some evidence of validation work in relation to Infants’ Dermatitis Quality of Life Index (IDQOL) 8 9, the overall validity of this instrument still remains to be established. his article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.