title: Pathway to dry skin prevention and treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This article presents an evidence-supported clinical pathway for dry skin prevention and treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The development of the pathway involved the following: a literature review was conducted and demonstrated that literature on dry skin is scarce. To compensate for the gap in the available literature, a modified Delphi method was used to collect information on prevention and treatment practice through a panel, which included 10 selected dermatologists who currently provide medical care for dermatology patients in Ontario. An advisor experienced in this therapeutic area guided the process, including a central meeting. Panel members completed a questionnaire regarding their individual practice in caring for these patients and responded to questions on assessment of dry skin etiology, frequency of skin care visits for consultation and follow-up, assessment, and referral to other specialties. The panel members reviewed a summary of all responses and reached a consensus. The result was presented as a clinical pathway.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The panel concluded that our current awareness of dry skin and therefore prevention and effective treatment is limited; that identifying dry skin and its clinical issues requires tools such as clinical pathways, which may improve patient outcomes; and that additional research on dry skin etiology, prevention, and treatment is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Andriessen Consultants, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Lyn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guenther
authors.forename: Chuck W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lynde
authors.forename: Anneke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andriessen
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barankin
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: Sandra P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Skotnicki
authors.forename: Samir N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Kenneth Lee
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sloan
mesh_terms: D001494:Baths; D019091:Critical Pathways; D003697:Delphi Technique; D004643:Emollients / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D004643:Emollients