Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29435857›Full record

ArticleDermatology and therapy2018

A Qualitative Investigation of the Impact of Acne on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL): Development of a Conceptual Model.

Gabriella Fabbrocini, Sara Cacciapuoti, Giuseppe Monfrecola

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Dermatology and therapy, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 28 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
28citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
5.3field-weighted citation impact, top 4% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

28 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 57 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  6. Is There a Place for Biologics in Acne?American journal of clinical dermatology · 2025
    Review
  7. Educational, labour market and relationship outcomes in people with acne.Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV · 2025
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Gabriella FabbrociniSection of Dermatology, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. gafabbro@unina.it.
Sara CacciapuotiSection of Dermatology, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Giuseppe MonfrecolaSection of Dermatology, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
University of Naples Federico II · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe negative impact of acne on aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQL) has been demonstrated in many quantitative studies; however, there has been relatively little qualitative research exploring the impact of acne and the use of topical treatment. The study aimed to explore the impact of moderate-severe acne on HRQL in adolescents and adults with inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions and to develop a conceptual model to illustrate the impact. In addition, the study aimed to identify the attributes of topical acne treatments that are most important for patients.

methodsThirty-four adolescents and 16 adults with moderate-severe acne who were currently/recently prescribed topical treatment were recruited in this cross-sectional qualitative study in the UK, Italy, and Germany. In-depth, semi-structured telephone interviews explored patients' experiences of acne and the impact it has on their HRQL, and their experience of topical treatments for acne. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and a conceptual model was developed.

resultsThe analysis identified seven main areas of HRQL that are affected by acne: emotional functioning, social functioning, relationships, leisure activities, daily activities, sleep, and school/work. Also common throughout the interviews was the perception and reaction to acne from others, which potentially had an impact on all areas of HRQL. The conceptual model illustrates the impact on HRQL and the links between HRQL domains. For both adolescents and adults, it was most important for acne treatments to be fast-acting, non-irritating, and non-bleaching.

conclusionThe results of this qualitative study demonstrate that moderate-severe acne has an extensive impact on adolescents' and adults' HRQL. The conceptual model illustrates the many areas of HRQL that are affected and draws attention to the importance of effective treatments for acne. The study also highlights topical acne treatment attributes that are most important for patients.

fundingMeda, a Mylan company.

Indexed as

Acne vulgarisConceptual modelHealth-related quality of lifeQualitativeTopical treatment

Identifiers

PMID29435857
PMCPMC5825329
OpenAlexW2793496814

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.