Patients' benefit from contact dermatitis evaluation: Results of a follow-up study

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to follow up patients seen in a contact dermatitis clinic to assess patient benefit from the evaluation. Methods: Four hundred sixteen consecutive contact dermatitis clinic patients were sent a standard questionnaire 2 months after their visits to evaluate their experience, clinical improvement, effect on job status, and understanding of their diagnosis and management. One hundred seventy-one patients (41.1%) responded to the survey. We reviewed all responder and nonresponder charts and analyzed various factors, including patch test results, presence or absence of other skin disease, job modification after testing, and overall outcome. Results: Before the review, positive, neutral, and negative outcomes were defined based on change in dermatitis and patient education. Of the 171 responders, 152 charts were available for review. One hundred four of 152 (68.4%) had a positive outcome of the patch test evaluation, 41 of 152 (27.0%) had a neutral outcome, and 7 of 152 (4.6%) had a negative outcome. Of the 103 nonresponders who had follow-up available by chart review, outcomes showed a similar trend. Job change occurred for a minority of patients (12.9%), and job modification, where it was applicable, was implemented for 61.9% of patients. Conclusion: Our results indicate that contact dermatitis evaluation, including patch testing, had a positive impact for the majority of patients in terms of improvement of the dermatitis, identification of allergens to avoid, education about irritant factors, protective measures, and/or therapeutic expectations.