A Qualitative Study on the Perception of Atopic Dermatitis by Malagasy Young Patients Regarding Self-Management

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic disease that usually begins in childhood and can persist at any age. It is essential for adolescents entering to adulthood to have a complete understanding of this disease, including its self-management responsibilities. This study aimed to explore Malagasy adolescents and young adults’ perceptions of atopic dermatitis regarding the concept of self-management. This is a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with adolescent and young adult patients suffering from AD, who were followed up at the Dermatology Department of the University Hospital Joseph Raseta Befelatanana, Antananarivo, Madagascar. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using NVivo software version 10.2.2 (QSR International, Doncaster, Australia). Five male and seven female patients with mild to severe AD were included according to the Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM). The mean age was 19.83 years and the mean interview duration was 21.3 minutes. Despite a relatively long duration of AD, the nature of this condition, and the principles and goals of treatment are still poorly understood among young people. Consequently, many still hope for a complete cure for their AD. Our patients adhered to treatment and did not fear topical corticosteroids. This study highlights the importance of providing information about atopic dermatitis during childhood, and emphasizes the need to recommunicate this information directly to these patients during adolescence, aiming for an optimal transition process regarding disease self-management.