Effects of an episode of specialist care on the impact of childhood atopic dermatitis on the child's family

Abstract

Introduction: Although some preliminary work has examined the impact of atopic dermatitis (AD) on families, no empirical work has examined changes in the impact on families dealing with AD over time. An exploratory analysis of change in impact on families dealing with AD before and after an episode of medical care in a physician office setting was conducted. Method: Baseline and follow-up surveys were completed by 35 parent caregivers before and 1 month after a dermatologist visit for the child at an academic medical center. Results: In the postcare survey, there was a 43% reduction in the Dermatitis Family Impact Questionnaire (DFI) scores (P <.01) compared with baseline. Significant differences were also observed in other parent caregiver-reported characteristics. The significant change in parent caregiver characteristic associated with the decreased DFI score was the increased satisfaction with the medical care related to the child's treatment (P <.01). Discussion: These data reveal that there is a strong decrease in impact on a family associated with an episode of specialist care for children with AD. The importance of pediatric health care professionals in decreasing the impact of AD on families needs further exploration. J Pediatr Health Care. (2003). 17, 184-189.