title: Awareness of Atopic Dermatitis and Attitudes toward Different Types of Medical Institutions for Its Treatment among Adult Patients and the Parents of Pediatric Patients: A Survey of 500 Participants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physicians can play a crucial role in the knowledge that patients have about a disease and its prognosis. Recently, patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) are increasingly turning from western medicine to oriental herbal medicine. However, their awareness of AD and attitude toward Western medicine and oriental herbal medicine clinics are scarcely reported.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the understanding of AD among patients and their parents and to identify their awareness of and attitude toward Western medicine and oriental herbal medicine as treatments for AD.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online questionnaire was administered to 500 consenting respondents with AD (age, 16~49 years) and parents of children with AD (age, 0~15 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean percentage of correct answers to questions about AD was 52.54%. A parental history of AD was independently associated with higher respondent's knowledge about the disease and its treatment. The satisfaction with treatment outcomes was highest among patients treated at private clinic of dermatology specialists (49.4%), while lowest among those treated at oriental herbal medicine clinics (38.4%). Many participants were aware that oriental herbal medicine requires a longer treatment period for a cure and does not burden the skin, while steroid phobia was seen in most of participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physicians need to educate AD patients and their parents about the disease and its treatment. Misconceptions for Western medicine and oriental herbal medicine among AD patients and parents should be corrected to improve their prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Nam Kyung
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Song Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Hwaseong, Korea.
authors.forename: Gyeong-Hun
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Bark-Lynn
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Lew
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Eung Ho
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Chang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Lip
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Son
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.; Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yang Won
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chun Wook
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Park
keywords: Atopic dermatitis; Awareness; Behavior; Knowledge; Surveys and questionnaires