This is an investigator-blinded, prospective study of 20 subjects aged 13 through 18 with mild to moderate acne. Study subjects will be randomized to an internet survey group, in which an email link for a survey ascertaining the status of the subject's acne is sent weekly, or to a control group. All study subjects will use benzoyl peroxide 5% gel, and adherence and clinical improvement will be monitored over 12 weeks. The investigators hypothesis is that subjects in the internet survey group will have improved adherence to the study medication and clinical outcomes, because the weekly survey will remind subjects to use their medication.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
20
A weekly email link will be generated to an internet survey which questions subjects about their acne severity, compliance with the study medication, and attitudes toward acne and the study medication.
Topical benzoyl peroxide 5% gel, to be used once daily to the face.
Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Department of Dermatology
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
The Measured Adherence by the MEMS Cap in Relation to the Patient Reported Adherence Via the Internet Survey.
Adherence will be objectively measured with the Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS) cap and the percentage of prescribed doses taken will be reported. Study subjects' self-reported adherence (in the intervention group, via the weekly internet survey) will be compared to objectively measured adherence via MEMS caps. Adherence was monitored objectively with electronic monitors that recorded the date and time when the medication containers were opened (medication event monitoring system caps). Adherence was rated as a percentage of days the medication container was opened; adherence could be greater than 100% if the container was opened more than once per day.
Time frame: 12 weeks
The Change (Dynamic Assessment) in the Acne Global Assessment From Baseline to End of Study.
Acne Global Assessment is measured by a study investigator and is an overall assessment of the subject's acne severity, on a 0 (clear) to 5 (very severe) scale.
Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks
The Change (Dynamic Assessment) From Baseline to End of Treatment in Lesion Counts.
Both inflammatory (papules, pustules and nodules) and non-inflammatory (open and closed comedones) acne lesions will be counted by a study investigator. Percentage change from baseline to the final study visit will be calculated.
Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks
The Measured Adherence by the MEMS Cap in Relation to the Change (Dynamic Assessment) in the Acne Global Assessment.
All study subjects' objective adherence will be compared to clinical improvement as measured by the Acne Global Assessment.
Time frame: 12 weeks
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