title: A service evaluation of the Eczema Education Programme: an analysis of child, parent and service impact outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The systematic support of parents of children with eczema is essential in effective disease management. The few existing support models have a limited evidence base. This paper reports the outcome-orientated service evaluation of an original, extensive, social learning-theory based, nurse-led Eczema Education Programme (EEP).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the EEP using specified child and parental outcomes and service impact data.
  
  
  METHODS
  From a sample of 257 parent-child dyads attending the EEP, a pretest-post-test design evaluated its child impact using health-related quality of life measures (Infants' Dermatitis Quality of Life index, which includes a small dermatitis severity element, and Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index), severity measures (Patient Orientated Eczema Measure), a new parental measure (Parental Self-Efficacy in Eczema Care Index) and service impact data based on general practitioner (GP) attendance patterns pre- and postintervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant impacts were observed on infant quality of life (P < 0·001), child quality of life (P = 0·027), disease severity (P < 0·001) and parental self-efficacy (P < 0·001). Improvements in child quality of life, parental efficacy and service impact were also evident from qualitative data. The cumulative total of all GP visits for selected participants post-EEP reduced by 62%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The EEP appears to be an effective model of delivering structured education to parents of children with eczema, and one generalizable to other multiethnic metropolitan populations. As a noncontrolled study, this rigorous service evaluation highlights the model's significance and the case for an evaluative multicentre randomized controlled trial of this educational intervention to inform a nurse-led programme of care.
authors: Faculty of Health and Social Care, University of Hull, Dearne Building, Hull, HU6 7RX, U.K.
authors: S J
authors: SJ
authors: Ersser
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Farasat
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Jackson
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Dennis
authors: Z A
authors: ZA
authors: Sheppard
authors: A
authors: A
authors: More
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004485:Eczema / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008131:London; D010290:Parents; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D016896:Treatment Outcome