Status of clinical practice on diagnosis and management of atopic dermatitis in Korea: a questionnaire survey of physicians

Abstract

Purpose: The prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) has been increasing in many developed countries including Korea. There has been little information on the status of real clinical practice for atopic dermatitis by physicians in Korea. Methods: This study investigated the current status of clinical practice on allergy test and treatment of AD in Korea by analyzing a questionnaire survey of 155 physicians who attended the educational program for practical management of AD by the Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The questionnaire was mainly composed of 20 items regarding diagnosis, treatment of AD. Results: Among the 155 physicians who completed the questionnaire survey, most of subjects (90%) agreed that allergy test was necessary, but only 68% performed allergy test in their practice for AD. The barriers to allergy testing were lack of test personnel or facilities (61%), disbelief on the clinical importance of allergy test in the treatment (41%), and difficulty in explanation about the test results to patients (16%). Problems interfering the active treatment of patients with AD were the difficulty in acquiring a sufficient time for education and explanation about treatment (54%), incomplete clinical efficacy of current medication and concern on the side effects (41%), and the difficulty in establishing a good doctor-patient relationship (40%). Conclusion: There are difficulties of physicians in the active management of AD in Korea. To solve current difficulties, changes in medical system to encourage the physicians’ effort for active clinical practice for patients with AD and education for physicians are needed. (Allergy Asthma Respir Dis 2013;1:257-265)