title: The effectiveness of integrated care for patients with hand eczema: results of a randomized, controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of integrated, multidisciplinary care as compared with usual care for patients with moderate to severe, chronic hand eczema after 26 weeks of follow-up.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This study was designed as a randomized, controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who visited one of the participating hospitals were randomized to integrated care or usual care. Integrated care was carried out by a multidisciplinary team, and integrated clinical and occupational care to optimize treatment, and the patient's quality of life and social functioning. Outcome variables were clinical assessment of hand eczema with the Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI) (primary outcome), quality of life, patient's global assessment of hand eczema, and sick leave.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average improvement on the HECSI was 22.4 points in the intervention group and 11.7 points in the control group. The mean difference in improvement on the HECSI between both groups after 26 weeks was 10.7 points in favour of the integrated care group (standard error 5.3, 95% confidence interval 0.3-21.1, p = 0.044). No differences in improvement between the groups were found for any of the other outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The integrated care programme significantly improved clinical outcome measures as compared with usual care, and was effective for treating patients with chronic hand eczema.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Centre, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Robin F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: van Gils
authors.forename: Cécile R L
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Boot
authors.forename: Dirk L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Knol
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rustemeyer
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van Mechelen
authors.forename: Pieter G M
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: van der Valk
authors.forename: Johannes R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Anema
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002908:Chronic Disease; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000628:therapy*; D004485:Eczema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018582:Sick Leave; D058992:Social Participation