Scoring of Hand Eczema: Good Reliability of Hand Eczema Extent Score (HEES)

Abstract

There is good agreement between dermatological staff and patients using the Hand Eczema Extent Score (HEES). The aim of this study was to assess inter- and intra-observer reliability of the HEES in dermatologists and intra-observer reliability of the HEES in patients with hand eczema. Six dermatologists assessed 18 patients twice. Only the hands of the patients were visible to the assessors. Patients performed a self-assessment twice. Inter- and intra-observer reliability was tested with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The mean HEES score for all dermatologists? assessments was 21.0 (range 3.6?46.3). The corresponding mean scores for all patients? own assessments were 24.9 (range 4.0?54.0). Inter-observer reliability in the dermatologists? observations ICC classification was very good, median value 0.82 (range 0.56?0.92). The overall intra-observer reliability for the 6 dermatologists? ICC classification was very good (range 0.88?0.94). Intra-observer reliability in the patients? 2 self-assessments ICC classification was very good (ICC 0.95). In conclusion, HEES is a reliable tool for both dermatologists and patients to grade the extent of hand eczema.