title: Age related, structured educational programmes for the management of atopic dermatitis in children and adolescents: multicentre, randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of age related, structured educational programmes on the management of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in childhood and adolescence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multicentre, randomised controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven hospitals in Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents of children with atopic dermatitis aged 3 months to 7 years (n = 274) and 8-12 years (n = 102), adolescents with atopic dermatitis aged 13-18 years (n = 70), and controls (n = 244, n = 83, and n = 50, respectively).
  
  
  METHODS
  Group sessions of standardised intervention programmes for atopic dermatitis once weekly for six weeks or no education (control group).
  
  
  METHODS
  Severity of eczema (scoring of atopic dermatitis scale), subjective severity (standardised questionnaires), and quality of life for parents of affected children aged less than 13 years, over 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant improvements in severity of eczema and subjective severity were seen in all intervention groups compared with control groups (total score for severity: age 3 months to 7 years - 17.5, 95% confidence intervals - 19.6 to - 15.3 v - 12.2, - 14.3 to - 10.1; age 8-12 years - 16.0, - 20.0 to - 12.0 v - 7.8, - 11.4; - 4.3; and age 13-18 years - 19.7, - 23.7 to - 15.7 v - 5.2, - 10.5 to 0.1). Parents of affected children aged less than 7 years experienced significantly better improvement in all five quality of life subscales, whereas parents of affected children aged 8-12 years experienced significantly better improvement in three of five quality of life subscales.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age related educational programmes for the control of atopic dermatitis in children and adolescents are effective in the long term management of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Pulmonology and Immunology, Charité, Humboldt University, Berlin.
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Staab
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Diepgen
authors.forename: Manigé
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fartasch
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kupfer
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lob-Corzilius
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ring
authors.forename: Sibylle
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scheewe
authors.forename: Reginald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scheidt
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schmid-Ott
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schnopp
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Szczepanski
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Werfel
authors.forename: Marita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wittenmeier
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wahn
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gieler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome