Throughout the past six months, the Global Research on the Impact of Dermatological Diseases (GRIDD) team has actively engaged patients around the world in a Delphi process, a key step in developing the Patient-reported Impact of Dermatological Diseases (PRIDD) measure. Thank you to our patient organizations around the world for their help in making the GRIDD Delphi process a success!
A Delphi is a consensus-seeking method widely used in health research. The main purpose of a Delphi is to explore a topic in a way that goes beyond what is currently known or believed and is based on the assumption that expert group judgments are more valid or accurate than individual judgments or assumptions. It is a scientific process that promotes greater accuracy and validates previous data-derived assumptions.
The GRIDD Delphi was comprised of two consecutive surveys, targeted at adults (over 18 yrs.) diagnosed with a dermatological condition. The surveys were available in multiple languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Mandarin (simplified Chinese), and Arabic.
On June 3, the GRIDD Delphi concluded. In Delphi #1, which took place December-January, 1154 patients from 61 countries, representing 90 diseases completed 263 questions about the impact of their dermatological diseases. In Delphi #2, which took place May-June, 493 of the original respondents completed the significantly refined and reduced 76-question questionnaire.
Results of the Delphi, along with previous GRIDD research, identified multiple important ways that dermatological conditions affect patients’ lives. We want to understand how important each of these impacts are to patients’ quality of life. This information is essential information for the development of PRIDD. This new measurement tool will allow us to collect data that shows what it is really like to live with a dermatological condition, thus helping dermatology patient organizations advocate for better access to treatments and appropriate healthcare for patients globally.