Family quality of life among families of children with atopic dermatitis.
BACKGROUND
Atopic dermatitis (AD) may cause emotional distress and impairs the quality of life (QoL) in children and their families.


OBJECTIVE
We examined family QoL of children with AD and explored associated factors such as disease severity and psychosocial factors among parents of children with AD.


METHODS
Study participants were 78 children (1 month to 16 years old) diagnosed with AD and their parents visiting an outpatient clinic of the Department of Pediatrics in Inha University Hospital. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and medical record review. Parents completed the Dermatitis Family Impact questionnaire (DFI), the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Korean Parenting Stress Index. For children aged below 6-year-old, parents were asked to complete the Infants' Dermatologic Quality of Life. SCOring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD), Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory version 4.0 Generic Core Scale were also completed.


RESULTS
The mean age of parents and children were 37.4 ± 5.3 years and 65.1 ± 45.7 months, respectively. Among them, 87.2% of parents were mothers and 60.3% of children were boys. The mean score of DFI was 11.2 ± 6.0. The mean SCORAD score was 28.3 ± 16.1. Family who experienced strong negative emotionality had a 3.8 times higher probability of experiencing a lower QoL than parents who did not (odds ratio [OR], 3.82;p= 0.041). Family of children with higher severity of AD had a 6.6 times (OR, 6.55;p= 0.018) higher probability of experiencing a low family QoL than their less-severe counterparts. Families of girls with AD had a lower QoL (OR, 8.40;p= 0.003) than families of boys.


CONCLUSIONS
Family QoL among parents of children with AD was low and associated with parent's psychosocial characteristics as well as disease severity of the children. Considering parental involvement in AD management for children, emotional support for parents can be helpful in long journey of disease management.
Environmental Health Center for Allergic Rhinitis, Inha University Hospital, Incheon 22332, Korea.
Hae Ji
HJ
Jang
Environmental Health Center for Allergic Rhinitis, Inha University Hospital, Incheon 22332, Korea.
Seonyeong
S
Hwang
Department of Nursing, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Korea.
Youngmee
Y
Ahn
Environmental Health Center for Allergic Rhinitis, Inha University Hospital, Incheon 22332, Korea.; Department of Pediatrics, Inha University Hospital, Incheon 22332, Korea.
Dae Hyun
DH
Lim
Department of Nursing, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Korea.
Min
M
Sohn
Environmental Health Center for Allergic Rhinitis, Inha University Hospital, Incheon 22332, Korea.; Department of Pediatrics, Inha University Hospital, Incheon 22332, Korea.
Jeong Hee
JH
Kim
Dermatitis, aopic; Quality of life; Stress, psychological