The Impact of an Educational Program on the Life Quality of Children and Adolescents with Atopic Dermatitis and on Their Families

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory disease, of varying severity, characterized by pruritus and eczema, which interferes the quality of life of patients and their families.

Objective: To evaluate the impact on the quality of life of children and adolescents with atopic dermatitis (AD) and on their families, pre and post therapeutic education.

Material and Methods: Cross-sectional study, which has evaluated the scores of the Children´s Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) of children and adolescents with AD and the caregivers Dermatitis Family Impact Questionnaire (DFI) during the medical consultation from March to August 2018. Thirty-four caregivers and patients with AD age ranged 5 to 15 years old have participated in the research, but only the 20 ones who joined the Project, which consists of offering therapeutic education during consultations and monthly appointments with a multidisciplinary team. The severity of the disease has been assessed according to the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD). The questionnaires were applied at the first and the last meeting on therapeutic education. The Chi-square test was used to evaluate categorical variables and Kruskal-Wallis the numerical variables.

Results: The mean age of patients was 9.75 years old (SD ± 3.00) and parents 39 years old (SD ± 4.50). The SCORAD mean before therapeutic education was 36.99 (SD ± 18.85) and patients were categorized as: 25% mild, 40% moderate and 35% severe. The CDLQI mean was 7.50 (SD ± 6.62) and the DFI was 14.95 (SD ± 8.78). After therapeutic education, the mean for SCORAD was 35.99 (SD ± 22.58), for CDLQI, 6.10 (SD ± 5.65) and for DFI, 12.05 (SD ± 8.07). A significant difference was observed in the DFI (p <0.05).

Conclusion: AD interferes negatively on the life quality of patients and on their families. An educational program can positively interfere with adherence, therapy and disease prognosis.

Keywords: atopic dermatitis, eczema, quality of life.