Effects of an episode of specialist care on the impact of childhood atopic dermatitis on the child's family.
BACKGROUND
Although some preliminary work has examined the impact of atopic dermatitis (AD) on families, no empirical work has examined changes in the impact on families dealing with AD over time. An exploratory analysis of change in impact on families dealing with AD before and after an episode of medical care in a physician office setting was conducted.


METHODS
Baseline and follow-up surveys were completed by 35 parent caregivers before and 1 month after a dermatologist visit for the child at an academic medical center.


RESULTS
In the postcare survey, there was a 43% reduction in the Dermatitis Family Impact Questionnaire (DFI) scores (P <.01) compared with baseline. Significant differences were also observed in other parent caregiver-reported characteristics. The significant change in parent caregiver characteristic associated with the decreased DFI score was the increased satisfaction with the medical care related to the child's treatment (P <.01).


CONCLUSIONS
These data reveal that there is a strong decrease in impact on a family associated with an episode of specialist care for children with AD. The importance of pediatric health care professionals in decreasing the impact of AD on families needs further exploration.
Balkrishnan
Rajesh
R
Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. rbalkris@wfubmc.edu
Manuel
Janeen
J
Clarke
Jan
J
Carroll
Christie L
CL
Housman
Tamara S
TS
Fleischer
Alan B
AB
D000041:Absenteeism; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D003880:Dermatology / Q000592:standards*; D017050:Episode of Care; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005192:Family Health; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000592:standards*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires