title: Therapeutic benefits in atopic dermatitis care from the patients' perspective: results of the German national health care study 'Atopic Health'.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Numerous therapies are recommended to treat atopic dermatitis. The German national health care study 'Atopic Health' generated nationwide data on the care situation from the patients' perspective.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data for 1,678 adult patients were collected within a retrospective cohort study throughout the year 2010. Six scores to capture satisfaction with care, quality of life (Dermatology Life Quality Index, EQ-5D-VAS), therapeutic success and benefits (Patient Benefit Index) were analyzed using descriptive methods and analysis of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  82.1% of patients were highly satisfied with their treatment. Topical corticosteroids and climate therapies were associated with the best success ratings. Quality of life was moderately impaired (mean Dermatology Life Quality Index 8.5 ± 6.5). 88.4% of the patients indicated a relevant therapeutic benefit (Patient Benefit Index ≥ 1) with significantly better scores for topical immunomodulating therapies and climate therapies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most frequently applied therapies presented pleasant success and benefit ratings, even if quality of life could be improved for more than one third of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital Münster, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steinke
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Langenbruch
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ständer
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Franzke
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Augustin
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D013790:Climatotherapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000628:therapy*; D004643:Emollients / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011701:PUVA Therapy; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D004643:Emollients; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents