title: A study of targeted enhanced patient care for pediatric atopic dermatitis (STEP PAD).
abstract: Atopic dermatitis is a common chronic skin condition in children. Treatment strategies often require stringent adherence to skin care regimens for symptom resolution. As many factors influence the course of the condition, we investigated the role of a designated "atopic dermatitis educator" in a pediatric dermatology clinic. We planned to determine whether the individual interaction with an atopic dermatitis educator affects the course of disease severity, resolution, and quality of life in atopic children. New and return pediatric atopic dermatitis patients from English-speaking families were recruited from a pediatric dermatology clinic with a single pediatric dermatologist. The 151 subjects were randomized to either the control or the intervention group. A total of 106 subjects completed the study. Those in the intervention group received the atopic dermatitis educator's individual counseling/education session. Subjects' severity was determined by the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis severity index and quality of life by either the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index or the Infants' Dermatitis Quality of Life index depending on the patient's age. Analysis of covariance was measured. No significant difference was found in the percentage change of severity or quality of life between the groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7287, USA.
authors.forename: Maren
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Dean S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Morrell
authors.forename: Lowell A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Goldsmith
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009657:North Carolina; D005791:Patient Care / Q000379:methods*; D011336:Probability; D011788:Quality of Life; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents