Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Dec 19, 2024
Open Peer Review Period: Dec 19, 2024 - Feb 13, 2025
Date Accepted: Mar 2, 2025
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Self-Stigma in Adults Living with Chronic Skin Disease: Development of the HautKompass Online Program and Pilot-Test of its Usability, Acceptability and Feasibility
ABSTRACT
Background:
Self-stigma is common among people with chronic skin disease and can substantially impair quality of life and psychosocial wellbeing. Few interventions targeting skin disease-related self-stigma are available, especially in Germany.
Objective:
This study aimed to develop an online self-guided program to reduce self-stigma among people with chronic skin disease, and test its usability, acceptability and feasibility.
Methods:
We developed the HautKompass (SkinCompass) program based on two systematic literature reviews and the expertise from psychodermatologists and patients. Its usability, acceptability, and feasibility were tested among 20 patients with psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, alopecia areata and vitiligo. After completing the program, participants provided feedback on each session and on their overall experience using the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire and study-specific feedback items. Data was analyzed descriptively.
Results:
HautKompass is grounded in Compassion Focused Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and consists of eight self-guided sessions. Results indicated high usability and acceptability: Users rated the program as helpful, the psychoeducation and exercise instructions as comprehensible, and the extent of the program as adequate. Criticism concerned the length of some sessions, the electronic voice used in exercises, and some of the examples being too “general” or “cliché”. The program’s extent was deemed adequate, and few participants dropped out, indicating low barriers.
Conclusions:
Overall, HautKompass was found to be a usable, acceptable program with feasible implementation. If its effectiveness can be confirmed in an ongoing randomized controlled trial (Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06324695), HautKompass will be made widely available to improve psychosocial care for people with chronic skin disease. Clinical Trial: Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06324695
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Copyright
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