eQUICK study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Developing and validating a digital tool for reporting quality of life data by children and young people with Vernal keratoconjunctivitis
IRAS ID
179914
Contact name
Vibha Sharma
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 27 days
Research summary
Vernal kerato-conjunctivitis (VKC) is a severe allergic eye condition which can cause blindness if not treated adequately. It typically affects pre-pubertal boys. It is a chronic condition which, when severe requires treatment with steroid eye drops, steroid injections into the eyelids or oral steroid or other immune suppressing drugs. Steroid treatment has sight threatening side effects such as glaucoma (elevated pressure in the eye causing irreversible damage to the optic nerve) and cataract as well as increasing the risk of secondary bacterial or viral infection of the eye. To adequately control the disease necessitates a risk-benefits analysis of treatment options. Current management of the condition in our Quaternary Ocular Allergy Clinic involves systematically monitoring of disease severity using an eye examination score, medication scores and a quality of life score (Juniper score). The Juniper score is not disease or age specific. A VKC quality of life questionnaire (QUICK) was previously developed and validated by Italian clinical researchers. We have translated it into English and propose to validate it, and create a digital version that is accessible, age appropriate and meet the preferences of patients aged 8-16 years. This will allow first-hand, real-time reporting of symptom severity by children and enable effective review of triggers and trends in symptoms by clinicians in between clinic visits. This in turn will help titrate effective choice and dose of treatments in response to symptom variability.
REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SC/0421
Date of REC Opinion
24 Jul 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion