Background: Facial erythema is a primary feature of rosacea. Currently, no validated scales exist that can accurately capture a patient's self-assessment of their own facial erythema. During phase 2 studies for brimonidine tartrate gel, a 5-point numeric rating scale was developed as a tool to allow subjects to provide an independent assessment of visible changes to the facial erythema associated with their rosacea.
Objective: The objective of this study was to validate the revised patient's self-assessment (PSA) scale and evaluate it for statistical reliability and validity in quantification of facial erythema of rosacea.
Methods: The validity of the PSA scale was evaluated by assessing the test-retest reliability, construct validity, and known-groups validity based on the data collected during a Phase 2b study on brimonidine gel for the treatment of persistent facial erythema of rosacea.
Results: Based on the results of this evaluation, this PSA scale demonstrated test-retest reliability, construct validity, and known-groups validity.
Limitations: Study results are most generalizable to those with moderate to severe erythema.
Conclusion: The PSA is an appropriate scale to assess facial erythema associated with rosacea.