P30 Trouble with skin: Do parents understand the impact skin conditions have on children’s quality of life?

Abstract

Abstract Paediatric skin conditions have a negative impact on the quality of life in patients and their families. The children’s dermatology life quality index score (CDLQI) was initially designed and published in 1951. Often the parent or guardian fills out this questionnaire; basing their answers on how they feel the disease is affecting the child. This leads to a biased CDLQI that doesn’t show the true impact on the child. Objective: To evaluate the impact of atopic dermatitis and psoriasis on children aged 4-12 and to assess if there is a difference in the CDLQI depending on whether the parent or child fills out the form. Observational cross-sectional study. Eighty patients aged 4-12 were recruited from paediatric dermatology clinic. Disease severity scores were completed and treatment to date noted. Parents filled out the CDLQI on their own while the child filled it out with the doctor. Parent and child answers assessed for differences. Eighty patients and parents met the inclusion criteria. Forty patients had psoriasis and forty had atopic dermatitis. Across all disease severities parents underestimated the impact of itch. The moderate disease cohort showed the greatest difference in patient/parent CDLQI. Parents overestimated how embarrassed children were and most parents felt the disease was impacting the childs friendships and causing bullying. The majority of children did not report this as being an issue. This highlights the impact of paediatric skin disease on carers and the importance of the child filling out the CDLQI form.