scholarly journals Randomised study within a trial (SWAT) to evaluate personalised versus standard text message prompts for increasing trial participant response to postal questionnaires (PROMPTS)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy Cureton ◽  
Ioana Marian ◽  
Vicki Barber ◽  
Adwoa Parker ◽  
David Torgerson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Response Rate ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Mobile Telephone ◽  
Questionnaire Response ◽  
Randomised Study ◽  
Study Within A Trial ◽  
Standard Text ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Trial Participants

Abstract Background: Use of a person’s name in a text message has been shown to be effective in instigating behaviour change. We evaluated the effectiveness of a personalised text message (including the recipient’s name), versus a standardised text message for prompting a response from trial participants to complete and return postal follow-up questionnaires.Methods: Using a randomised study within a trial (SWAT) embedded within the host GRASP (Getting it Right: Addressing Shoulder Pain) trial, participants who provided a mobile telephone number were randomised (1:1) by a central computer system to receive either: 1) a personalised text message which included their name; 2) a standard text message. Text messages were sent by the trial office on the same day as the 6-month GRASP follow-up questionnaire. The primary outcome was questionnaire response rate, defined as the proportion of 6-month GRASP follow-up questionnaires returned by participants. Secondary outcomes included time to response, the proportion of participants sent a reminder follow-up questionnaire and cost.Results: Between March 2017 and May 2019 (recruitment period for GRASP trial), 618 participants were randomised to a personalised (n=309) or standard (n=309) text message and all were included in the analysis. The overall questionnaire response rate was 86.9% (n=537/618); 89.6% (n=277/309) of participants responded in the personalised text message group compared to 84.1% (n=260/309) in the standard text message group (Relative Risk (RR) 1.07; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.13). Participants randomised to receive the personalised text message were more likely to return their initial postal questionnaire than those who received the standard text message (n=185/309; 59.9% vs. n=160/309; 51.8%) (RR 1.16; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.33); this represents an absolute percentage difference between intervention groups of 8.1%. Post-hoc subgroup analysis showed that males under 65 years were the group most likely to return their initial questionnaire if they received a personalised text message. Conclusion: Overall, participants who received a personalised text message were more likely to return their questionnaire than those who received the standard text message.Trial Registration: GRASP Trial ISRCTN16539266; SWAT Repository ID 35.

scholarly journals Randomised study within a trial (SWAT) to evaluate personalised versus standard text message prompts for increasing trial participant response to postal questionnaires (PROMPTS)

Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy Cureton ◽  
Ioana R. Marian ◽  
Vicki S. Barber ◽  
Adwoa Parker ◽  
David J. Torgerson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Response Rate ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Mobile Telephone ◽  
Questionnaire Response ◽  
Randomised Study ◽  
Study Within A Trial ◽  
Standard Text ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Trial Participants

Abstract Background Use of a person’s name in a text message has been shown to be effective in instigating behaviour change. We evaluated the effectiveness of a personalised text message (including the recipient’s name) versus a standardised text message for prompting a response from trial participants to complete and return postal follow-up questionnaires. Methods Using a randomised study within a trial (SWAT) embedded within the host GRASP (Getting it Right: Addressing Shoulder Pain) trial, participants who provided a mobile telephone number were randomised (1:1) by a central computer system to receive either (1) a personalised text message which included their name or (2) a standard text message. Text messages were sent by the trial office on the same day as the 6-month GRASP follow-up questionnaire. The primary outcome was questionnaire response rate, defined as the proportion of 6-month GRASP follow-up questionnaires returned by participants. Secondary outcomes included time to response, the proportion of participants sent a reminder follow-up questionnaire, and cost. Results Between March 2017 and May 2019 (recruitment period for GRASP trial), 618 participants were randomised to a personalised (n = 309) or standard (n = 309) text message and all were included in the analysis. The overall questionnaire response rate was 87% (n = 537/618); 90% (n = 277/309) of participants responded in the personalised text message group compared to 84% (n = 260/309) in the standard text message group (relative risk (RR) 1.07; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.13). Participants randomised to receive the personalised text message were more likely to return their initial postal questionnaire than those who received the standard text message (n = 185/309; 60% vs. n = 160/309; 52%) (RR 1.16; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.33); this represents an absolute percentage difference between intervention groups of 8%. Post hoc subgroup analysis showed that males under 65 years were the group most likely to return their initial questionnaire if they received a personalised text message. Conclusion Overall, participants who received a personalised text message were more likely to return their questionnaire than those who received the standard text message. Trial registration GRASP Trial ISRCTN16539266; SWAT Repository ID 35

A Pilot Study of Mobile Telephone Message Interventions with Suicide Attempters in China

Crisis ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Chen ◽  
Brian L. Mishara ◽  
Xiao Xian Liu
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Mobile Telephone ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Quick Method ◽  
Suicide Attempters ◽  
To Receive

Background: In China, where follow-up with hospitalized attempters is generally lacking, there is a great need for inexpensive and effective means of maintaining contact and decreasing recidivism. Aims: Our objective was to test whether mobile telephone message contacts after discharge would be feasible and acceptable to suicide attempters in China. Methods: Fifteen participants were recruited from suicide attempters seen in the Emergency Department in Wuhan, China, to participate in a pilot study to receive mobile telephone messages after discharge. All participants have access to a mobile telephone, and there is no charge for the user to receive text messages. Results: Most participants (12) considered the text message contacts an acceptable and useful form of help and would like to continue to receive them for a longer period of time. Conclusions: This suggests that, as a low-cost and quick method of intervention in areas where more intensive follow-up is not practical or available, telephone messages contacts are accessible, feasible, and acceptable to suicide attempters. We hope that this will inspire future research on regular and long-term message interventions to prevent recidivism in suicide attempters.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the effectiveness of an incentive strategy on the questionnaire response rate in parents of premature babies: a randomised controlled Study Within A Trial (SWAT) nested within SIFT

Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edmund Juszczak ◽  
Oliver Hewer ◽  
Christopher Partlett ◽  
Madeleine Hurd ◽  
Vasha Bari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Response Rate ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Absolute Difference ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Multiple Birth ◽  
Questionnaire Response ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Premature Babies ◽  
To Receive

Abstract Background Loss to follow-up resulting in missing outcomes compromises the validity of trial results by reducing statistical power, negatively affecting generalisability and undermining assumptions made at analysis, leading to potentially biased and misleading results. Evidence that incentives are effective at improving response rates exists, but there is little evidence regarding the best approach, especially in the field of perinatal medicine. The NIHR-funded SIFT trial follow-up of infants at 2 years of age provided an ideal opportunity to address this remaining uncertainty. Methods Participants: parents of infants from participating neonatal units in the UK and Ireland followed up for SIFT (multicentre RCT investigating two speeds of feeding in babies with gestational age at birth < 32 weeks and/or birthweight < 1500 g). Interventions: parents were randomly allocated to receive incentives (£15 gift voucher) before or after questionnaire return. The objective was to establish whether offering an unconditional incentive in advance or promising an incentive on completion of a questionnaire (conditional) improved the response rate in parents of premature babies. The primary outcome was questionnaire response rate. Permuted block randomisation was performed (variable size blocks), stratified by SIFT allocation (slower/faster feeds) and single/multiple birth. Multiple births were given the same incentives allocation. Parents were unaware that they were in an incentives SWAT; SIFT office staff were not blinded to allocation. Results Parents of 923 infants were randomised: 459 infants allocated to receive incentive before, 464 infants allocated to receive incentive after; analysis was by intention to treat. Allocation to the incentive before completion led to a significantly higher response rate, 83.0% (381/459) compared to the after-completion group, 76.1% (353/464); adjusted absolute difference of 6.8% (95% confidence interval 1.6% to 12.0%). Giving an incentive in advance is the more costly approach, but the mean difference of ~£3 per infant is small given the higher return. Conclusions An unconditional incentive in advance led to a significantly higher response rate compared to the promise of an incentive on completion. Against a backdrop of falling response rates to questionnaires, incentives can be an effective way to increase returns. Trial registration SIFT (ISRCTN76463425). Registered on March 5, 2013.; SWAT registration (SWAT 69 available from http://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/TheNorthernIrelandNetworkforTrialsMethodologyResearch/FileStore/Filetoupload,864297,en.pdf). Registered on June 27, 2016.

scholarly journals Pre-notification and personalisation of text messages to increase questionnaire completion in a smoking cessation pregnancy RCT: an embedded randomised factorial trial

F1000Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 637
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Coleman ◽  
Rachel Whitemore ◽  
Laura Clark ◽  
Karen Daykin ◽  
Miranda Clark
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Completion Rate ◽  
Factorial Trial ◽  
Study Within A Trial ◽  
Secondary Outcomes ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
To Receive

Background:  Low completion rates of questionnaires in randomised controlled trials can compromise the reliability of the results, so ways to boost questionnaire completion are often implemented. Although there is evidence to suggest that sending a text message to participants increases completion, there is little evidence around the timing or personalisation of these text messages.  Methods:  A two-by-two factorial SWAT (study within a trial) was embedded within the MiQuit-3 trial, looking at smoking cessation within pregnant smokers. Participants who reached their 36-week gestational follow-up were randomised to receive a personalised or non-personalised text message, either one week or one day prior to their follow-up. Primary outcomes were completion rate of questionnaire via telephone. Secondary outcomes included: completion rate via any method, time to completion, and number of attempts to contact required.  Results  In total 194 participants were randomised into the SWAT to receive a text message that was personalised early(n=50), personalised late (n=47), non-personalised early(n=50), or non-personalised late(n=47). There was no evidence that timing of the text message (early: one week before; or late: one day before) had an effect on any of the outcomes. There was evidence that a personalised text message would result in fewer completions compared with a non-personalised text message when data was collected only via the telephone(adjusted OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.22–0.87, p=0.02). However, these results were not significant when looking at completion via any method (adjusted OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.30-1.24, p=0.17). There was no evidence to show that personalisation or not was better for any of the secondary outcomes.  Conclusion  Timing of the text message does not appear to influence the completion of questionnaires. Personalisation of a text message may be detrimental to questionnaire completion, if data is only collected via the telephone - however, more SWATs should be undertaken in this field.

Two-by-two factorial randomised study within a trial to evaluate strategies for follow-up in a randomised prevention trial

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy Bradshaw ◽  
Alan A Montgomery ◽  
Hywel Williams ◽  
Joanne Chalmers ◽  
Rachel Haines
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Power ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Outcome Data ◽  
Trial Registration ◽  
Prevention Trial ◽  
Randomised Study ◽  
Invitation Letter ◽  
Study Within A Trial ◽  
Sms Notification

Abstract Background Failure to collect outcome data in randomised trials can result in bias and loss of statistical power. Further evaluations of strategies to increase retention are required. We assessed the effectiveness of two strategies for retention in a randomised prevention trial using a two-by-two factorial randomised study within a trial (SWAT). Methods Parents of babies included in the host trial were randomised to (1) Short message service (SMS) notification prior to sending questionnaires at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months versus no SMS notification and (2) £10 voucher sent with the invitation letter for the primary follow up visit at 24 months or given at the visit. The two co-primary outcomes were collection of host trial (1) questionnaire data at interim follow-up times and (2) primary outcome at 24 months during a home/clinic visit with a research nurse. Results Between November 2014 and November 2016, 1394 participants were randomised: 350 to no SMS + voucher at visit, 345 to SMS + voucher at visit, 352 to no SMS + voucher before visit and 347 to SMS + voucher before visit. Overall 75% of questionnaires were completed in both the group allocated to the prior SMS notification and the group allocated to no SMS notification (odds ratio (OR) SMS v. none 1.02, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.25). Host trial primary outcome data was collected at a visit for 557 (80%) allocated to the voucher before the visit in the invitation letter and for 566 (81%) whose parents were allocated to receive the voucher at the visit (OR before v. at visit 0.89, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.17). Conclusion There was no evidence of a difference in retention according to SMS notification or voucher timing. Future synthesis of SWAT results is required to be able to detect small but important incremental effects of retention strategies. Trial registration: Host trial registration: ISRCTN registry; ID: ISRCTN21528841. Registered on 25 July 2014. SWAT Repository Store ID 25

Randomized trial of three combinations of cisplatin with vindesine and/or VP-16-213 in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

1985 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
H M Dhingra ◽  
M Valdivieso ◽  
D T Carr ◽  
D F Chiuten ◽  
P Farha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Small Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Median Survival ◽  
Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Small Cell ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Small Cell Lung ◽  
To Receive

One hundred sixty-seven evaluable patients with non-small-cell lung cancer were randomized to receive high-dose cisplatin and vindesine (PVD), or cisplatin and VP-16-213 (etoposide epipodophyllotoxin) (PVP), or cisplatin with VP-16-213 and vindesine (PVPVD). The patient distribution and characteristics were similar in all the treatment arms. The response rate differences (35% in PVD arm, 30% in PVP arm, and 22% in PVPVD arm) were not statistically significant (P = .33). Response durations were 43 weeks in the PVD arm, 20 weeks in the PVP arm, and 27 weeks in the PVPVD arm. Median survival was 29 weeks in the PVD and PVP arms and 28 weeks in the PVPVD arm. Median survival time of responding patients was 76 weeks in the PVD arm and 65 weeks in the PVP arm; 78% of patients were alive at 22+ to 87+ weeks follow-up in the PVPVD arm. Myelosuppression was similar in all three treatment arms. Significantly more azotemia occurred in the PVD arm than in the PVP and PVPVD arms (P = .002), and significantly more neuropathy in the PVD and PVPVD arms than in the PVP arm (P = .003 and .005). All the treatment arms have similar antitumor activity in non-small-cell lung cancer, but the PVP combination is slightly less toxic than the PVD and PVPVD treatment arms.

Decitabine Low-Dose Schedule (100 mg/m2/Course) in Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS). Comparison of 3 Different Dose Schedules.

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 2522-2522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hagop Kantarjian ◽  
Susan O’Brien ◽  
Francis Giles ◽  
Farhad Ravandi-Kashani ◽  
Stefan Faderl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Dose ◽  
Overall Response Rate ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Optimal Schedule ◽  
Dose Schedule ◽  
Overall Response ◽  
Transfusion Independence ◽  
Secondary Mds ◽  
To Receive

Abstract Background Decitabine (DAC), a hypomethylating agent, has shown activity in MDS. DAC 150 mg/m2 by continuous infusion has been associated with CR rates of 10% to 20%. We investigated optimizing the dose schedule of DAC in MDS. Study Group and Methods Patients (pts) with IPSS intermediate 1–2 & high risk MDS were randomized to one of 3 schedules of DAC: 1) 20 mg/m2 IV over 1 hour daily x 5; 2) 10 mg/m2 IV over 1 hour daily x 10; or 3)10 mg/m2 subcutaneously (SQ) BID x 5. A total of 95 pts are to be treated; Bayesian randomization is implemented based on CR rates. Courses were given every 28 days. Delays to allow counts recovery were permitted every 3 courses, or if myelosuppression without disease, or severe myelosuppression complications. Pts were allowed to receive erythropoietin 40,000 units weekly for anemia, or GCSF if needed. Response criteria for CR & PR were as for AML (PR requiring also ↓ blasts by &gt;50%). Clinical benefit (CB) referred to one or more of: platelets î by ≥ 50% and &gt;30 x 109/L, or granulocytes increase by ≥ 100% and to &gt;109/L, or hemoglobin î by ≥ 2 g/dl or transfusion independence, or splenomegaly ↓ by 50% or more, or monocytes ↓ by 50% or more (pretreatment &gt;5 x 109/L). Results 92 pts have been treated; median age 65 (31–90) yrs; 66% &gt;60 yrs old. IPSS: intermediate-1 25%; intermediate-2 38%; high 19%; CMML 17% Cytogenetic abnormalities 57%; secondary MDS 17%; marrow blasts &gt; 10% in 31%. 27 pts had prior erythropoietin; 17 had prior GCSF; 22 had other prior therapies. Presently, 89 pts have received 1 course. Results: 32 CR (36%); 7 PR (8%); 13 marrow CR + CB (15%); 16 CB (18%); overall response 68/89=76%. Median courses to CR 3 (range 1 to 6). Median follow-up of 9 months; 48 pts continue on DAC. Compared with a 114 pts with MDS who received intensive chemotherapy (2000–2004), CR rate was lower with DAC (36% vs. 45%), overall response rate was favorable; 6-week mortality was lower with DAC (1% vs. 21%); and estimated survival favorable (p = 0.00007). CR rates by schedule: 5 days IV 24/58 (41%); 5 days SQ 4/14 (28%); 10 day IV 4/17 (24%). There was more myelosuppression with 10 day IV. After 55 patients were randomized, the 5 day IV arm was determined statistically superior, therefore, remaining patients were not randomized, but were treated with 5 days IV therapy. Conclusions DAC has significant anti-MDS activity; 2) optimal schedule: 20 mg/m2 IV over 1 hour daily x 5; 3) timely repeated courses needed for optimal response.

Randomized Comparison of Cladribine Containing Regimens and COP in Previously Untreated Patients with Small Lymphocytic, Marginal Zone and Follicular Lymphoma.

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 4739-4739
Author(s):  
Ewa Kalinka ◽  
Jaroslaw Wajs ◽  
Kazimierz Sulek ◽  
Tadeusz Robak ◽  
Maria Blasinska-Morawiec ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Overall Response Rate ◽  
Marginal Zone ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Front Line ◽  
Histological Subtypes ◽  
First Line ◽  
To Receive

Abstract The aim of the study was to comparatively assess first-line treatment with cladribine alone or in combination with cyclophosphamide (CCR, cladribine-containing regimens) and COP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone) in different subtypes of low-grade lymphoma. End points were complete remission (CR), overall response rate (ORR), incidence of chemotherapy-related side effects as well as freedom from progression (FFP) and overall survival (OS). From June’2000 to June’2005, 178 previously untreated patients (pts) were randomly allocated to receive 6 monthly courses of either CCR or COP in 17 centers in Poland. This analysis included 107 pts who have completed scheduled chemotherapy, including 45 pts with small lymphocytic (SLL, median age=64 years), 26 marginal zone (MZL, median age=58 years) and 36 follicular (FL, median age=65 years) lymphoma. Compared to COP, CCR induced higher CR rates in all treated groups (65% vs 15%, p=.005; 57% vs 10%, p=.02; 58% vs 12%, p=.03, respectively) but differences in ORR were not significant (92% vs 69%; 92% vs 60%; 79% vs 62%, respectively). Incidence of side effects did not differ significantly in CCR- as compared to COP-treated pts, e.i. infections (10% vs 7%; 14% vs 20%; 15% vs 0%, respectively), myelosuppression (31% vs 7%; 21% vs 20%; 30% vs 0%, respectively), and non-hematological adverse events (10% vs 14%; 7% vs 30%; 7% vs 22%, respectively). With a median follow-up of 12 months, median FFP was superior in CCR- as compared to COP-treated treated pts with SLL (43 vs 12 months, log-rank p<.03) or MZL (37 vs 7 months, log-rank p<.03) but not with FL (17 vs 22 months). Although the median OS has not been reached in any of the histological group so far, no difference in its duration is detected between CCR- or COP-treated pts. In summary, for pts with SLL, MZL and FL, first-line CCR regimens provided better CR and similar toxicity rates as compared to COP, which translated into longer FFP in SLL and MZL but not in FL pts. Although these results warrant larger number of pts and longer follow-up, they might suggest the choice of different front-line chemotherapy with or without immunotherapy in particular histological subtypes of low-grade lymphoma.

Bortezomib-Melphalan-Prednisone-Thalidomide Followed by Maintenance With Bortezomib-Thalidomide Compared With Bortezomib-Melphalan-Prednisone for Initial Treatment of Multiple Myeloma: Updated Follow-Up and Improved Survival

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 634-640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Palumbo ◽  
Sara Bringhen ◽  
Alessandra Larocca ◽  
Davide Rossi ◽  
Francesco Di Raimondo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Myeloma ◽  
Overall Survival ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Complete Response Rate ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
Complete Response ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Grade 3 ◽  
To Receive

Purpose Bortezomib-melphalan-prednisone (VMP) has improved overall survival in multiple myeloma. This randomized trial compared VMP plus thalidomide (VMPT) induction followed by bortezomib-thalidomide maintenance (VMPT-VT) with VMP in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Patients and Methods We randomly assigned 511 patients who were not eligible for transplantation to receive VMPT-VT (nine 5-week cycles of VMPT followed by 2 years of VT maintenance) or VMP (nine 5-week cycles without maintenance). Results In the initial analysis with a median follow-up of 23 months, VMPT-VT improved complete response rate from 24% to 38% and 3-year progression-free-survival (PFS) from 41% to 56% compared with VMP. In this analysis, median follow-up was 54 months. The median PFS was significantly longer with VMPT-VT (35.3 months) than with VMP (24.8 months; hazard ratio [HR], 0.58; P < .001). The time to next therapy was 46.6 months in the VMPT-VT group and 27.8 months in the VMP group (HR, 0.52; P < .001). The 5-year overall survival (OS) was greater with VMPT-VT (61%) than with VMP (51%; HR, 0.70; P = .01). Survival from relapse was identical in both groups (HR, 0.92; P = .63). In the VMPT-VT group, the most frequent grade 3 to 4 adverse events included neutropenia (38%), thrombocytopenia (22%), peripheral neuropathy (11%), and cardiologic events (11%). All of these, except for thrombocytopenia, were significantly more frequent in the VMPT-VT patients. Conclusion Bortezomib and thalidomide significantly improved OS in multiple myeloma patients not eligible for transplantation.

scholarly journals Combining 308-monochromatic excimer phototherapy with monthly IM triamcinolone acetonide for the treatment of resistant alopecia totalis

2021 ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Triamcinolone Acetonide ◽  
Overall Response Rate ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Young Patients ◽  
Interventional Study ◽  
Younger Patients ◽  
History Of ◽  
To Receive

Background: Treatment of resistant alopecia totalis AT is a major problem in general practice. Some studies reported the use of either excimer-308 or intra-muscular triamcinolone acetonide as a monotherapy, with conflicting results. Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of combining 308-excimer phototherapy and intramuscular triamcinolone acetonide for the treatment of alopecia totalis. Methods and Material: Ten patients with alopecia totalis were evaluated in this prospective interventional study. All patients were assigned to receive the thera-peutic regimen that includes monthly IM triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) for a maximum of six pulses and twice-weekly excimer phototherapy for 24 sessions. Results: The overall response rate for this regimen was 90%, with four patients 40% achieving complete regrowth of hair (100%). Three patients have exhibited a satisfactory response (>70% regrowth). Unsatisfactory response ( >10-< 70% regrowth) was reported in two patients . Younger patients responded better, as did those with a shorter history of the disease P < 0.05. At follow-up, which continued for 8–12 months, recurrence was noted in two (22.2%) of the nine responders. Conclusions: Combining excimer phototherapy with triamcinolone acetonide showed a promising effect on resistant AT. This treatment modality was effective and well tolerated particularly in young patients.

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