Improving patient education for atopic dermatitis: A randomized controlled trial of a caregiver handbook

Background/objectives: Patient education is important to families' ability to manage and cope with pediatric atopic dermatitis (AD). We evaluated whether an educational handbook could improve AD symptoms, caregiver confidence in AD management skills, and AD-related quality of life.

Methods: Caregivers of children with AD ages 1 month to 16 years were randomly assigned to the intervention arm (handbook in addition to standard AD management) or the control arm (standard management alone). Caregivers completed self-report outcome questionnaires prior to a clinical visit for AD and at 3-month follow-up.

Results: 175 caregivers completed questionnaires at baseline and follow-up. AD symptoms measured by the Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) improved in both the handbook and control arms. However, the decrease in the mean POEM score in the handbook arm (-4.4, 95% CI [-5.8, -3.0]) did not differ from that in the control arm (-3.4, 95% CI [-4.8, -2.03]; P = .343). Change in quality of life did not differ between study arms. Among caregivers attending a new patient visit for AD, mean confidence scores (measured from 0 to 100) increased more in the handbook arm (67 [95% CI {60, 74}] to 83 [95% CI {77, 88}]) relative to the control arm (74 [95% CI {65, 82}] to 75 [95% CI {67, 83}]; P = .012). The majority of caregivers rated the handbook as helpful in managing the child's AD.

Conclusions: Despite an adequate sample size, the handbook did not improve AD symptoms more than standard management alone. The handbook improved confidence in management skills for families attending new patient visits for AD.