CASE STUDY
Transforming eczema care with an evidence-based digital platform that saves the NHS up to £1 million
KEY Services
PPIE engagement
Cloud infrastrucure
Human-centred design
The challenge
Build a scalable, bilingual Drupal CMS that Eczema Care Online could manage
Eczema affects millions across the UK, with significant impact on quality of life and substantial costs to the NHS. Despite being a common condition, patients and families consistently report receiving insufficient information and guidance during brief clinical appointments. Healthcare professionals lack the time to provide detailed advice on treatment application, trigger management, and daily care routines—leaving patients struggling to manage their symptoms effectively.
The University of Southampton needed a digital solution that could deliver comprehensive, evidence-based eczema education and self-management support at scale, while reducing pressure on overstretched NHS services.
Essential deliverables
Create configurable interactive features (Quiz and 2-Week Challenge)
Develop a flexible, bilingual Drupal CMS for autonomous management by the ECO team
Maintain compliance with DSPT standards and analytics protocols
Support two distinct user journeys (Myself / My Child)
The solution
A reimagined platform serving two distinct audiences
Working in close collaboration with the University of Southampton research team, patients, and clinicians, we developed EczemaCareOnline.org.uk—a comprehensive digital resource that transforms how people understand and manage eczema. The platform combines clinical expertise with user-centered design to create an accessible, evidence-based self-management tool.
Evidence-based content library
The platform houses videos, written guides, and interactive resources covering treatment application techniques, trigger identification, and psychological support for living with eczema. All content is grounded in clinical research and developed with input from dermatologists, ensuring accuracy and safety.
Intelligent assessment quiz
An interactive quiz guides users to personalised content based on their symptoms, treatment history, and concerns—acting as an intelligent triage system that connects people with relevant resources rather than overwhelming them with generic information.
Multilingual support with privacy-first analytics
We implemented comprehensive language support through the CMS, making evidence-based care accessible to non-English speaking communities. Privacy-compliant analytics provide the research team with actionable insights about usage patterns and content effectiveness.
OUR APPROACH
Building lasting behaviour change through the 2-Week Challenge
The Two-Week Challenge encourages consistent moisturising habits—a cornerstone of effective eczema management. We designed an intuitive onboarding experience incorporating clinically-proven behavior change techniques, daily guidance, and progress tracking to help users establish sustainable routines that deliver lasting symptom improvement.
Key features
Impact and recognition
The platform delivered measurable improvements across clinical, economic, and user experience dimensions:
Miriam Santer
