Kate is currently a fourth-year medical student at Queen’s University Belfast. She recently completed an intercalated MSc in Global Health at Maastricht University, Netherlands. During her MSc, she conducted qualitative research on Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis under the supervision of Avanti Wadugodapitiya, exploring the perspectives of healthcare professionals from both global literature and Northern Ireland.

This research experience was an enriching opportunity to understand the impact SJS/TEN has on patient lives and how to support healthcare professionals involved in their care.

Free Paper Presentation (Research category) at The Society of Tissue Viability 2025 Conference

Steven Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: perspectives of healthcare professionals in Northern Ireland and the global literature

Abstract

Background – SJS/TEN places a significant burden upon patients, survivors, healthcare professionals and healthcare systems. Yet, a dearth of knowledge of healthcare professionals’ perspectives of SJS/TEN care provision exists. Therefore, this research aimed to identity healthcare professionals’ perceived needs, challenges, and opportunities within SJS/TEN care provision with a focus on Northern Ireland.

Methods – The methods of this research consisted of (i) a scoping review to map the perspectives of healthcare professionals of SJS/TEN care provision in the global literature, and (ii) semi-structured open-ended interviews with healthcare professionals involved in SJS/TEN care provision in Northern Ireland. The scoping review included 16 publications. Eight participant interviews were conducted with healthcare professionals in Northern Ireland to gain an in-depth insight into healthcare professionals’ perspectives within this context specifically.

Results – The results of this research identified shared and unique needs, challenges, and opportunities of SJS/TEN care provision between healthcare professionals in the global literature and in Northern Ireland. Within the scoping review needs, challenges and opportunities were found within the themes of SJS/TEN (1) multidisciplinary care, (2) treatment guidelines and (3) research. Results of participant interviews in NI found healthcare professionals perceived needs, challenges, and opportunities to exist within (1) the care demanded by the nature of SJS/TEN, (2) providing multidisciplinary SJS/TEN care in NI, (3) interactions with SJS/TEN patients and their families, (4) enhancing SJS/TEN guidelines amidst variability, and (5) expanding SJS/TEN knowledge locally and globally.

Conclusions – Healthcare professionals’ rich knowledge and experience is crucial to advancing SJS/TEN care locally and globally. Future efforts should be made to provide SJS/TEN healthcare professionals with a platform to share their experiences and opportunities to collaborate with key SJS/TEN stakeholders locally and internationally.