ECHO project in atopic dermatitis in Argentina: An innovative strategy to reach underserved areas with up to date knowledge, first year of experience

Luna, Paula Carolina; Debernardi, María Emilia; Echeverría, Cristina; Angles, María Valeria; Mazzuoccolo, Luis Daniel

doi:10.1016/j.abd.2021.09.006

Cited by 4 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Telementoring, successfully used in Argentina for psoriasis and AD, [ 81 , 82 ] allows for the remote training of doctors. As an immediate consequence, patients can access specialists in the best available clinics without needing to travel to specialized centers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Healthcare Disparities in Atopic Dermatitis in Latin America: A Narrative Review

Sánchez

Ale

Angles

et al. 2022

Dermatol Ther (Heidelb)

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Introduction Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, pruritic skin disease caused by a mixture of genetic, immunological, and environmental factors, characterized by periods of inflammation and remission. In Latin America (LA), the prevalence of AD ranges up to 25% in children and 1–3% in adults. The natural history of the disease for most patients is that AD goes into remission in adolescence and adult life. Only 10–30% of patients continue to have symptoms of the disease in adulthood. There are patients (3–4%) who have the onset of AD during adolescence or after adulthood. Those with limited access to healthcare services, such as diagnosis and treatment, have increased difficulties coping with AD. Healthcare disparities are a complex topic that include social, political, racial/ethnic, and geographical factors. Publications about healthcare disparities in AD in LA are scarce. As a result, recognizing and resolving healthcare inequalities is critical to improving the treatment and quality of life (QoL) of individuals with AD. Methods A panel of Latin American experts in dermatology and allergies was provided with a series of relevant questions to address before a multiday conference. During this conference, the entire group discussed and edited each narrative through numerous drafts and rounds of discussion until they reached a consensus. Results This paper examines the barriers to equal access to care and recommends realistic actions to overcome them. Inadequate disease knowledge, cultural and linguistic barriers, stigmatization, maldistribution of resources, absence of local clinical practice guidelines, arduous patient journey, and limited consultation time were identified as causes of health inequality. Conclusions Among the suggested solutions are enhanced education for healthcare professionals, patients, and the general public, a focus on underprivileged communities, telemedicine and telementoring, translators, multidisciplinary teams, and local living clinical practice guidelines.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Healthcare Disparities in Atopic Dermatitis in Latin America: A Narrative Review

Sánchez

Ale

Angles

et al. 2022

Dermatol Ther (Heidelb)

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“…Fortunately, plans are beginning to be implemented worldwide regarding teaching physicians in underserved areas the most up-to-date AD information [12]. The Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) project was developed in the United States to advance the education of clinicians worldwide on chronic, prevalent, complex diseases, including AD.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The ECHO-AD program has been implemented in Argentina since 2019 and consists of the presentation of clinical cases by videoconference, virtual classes, and a permanently available open chat between healthcare professionals caring for patients with AD and a group of experts. The first study of the impact of this program in Argentina was published in 2022, revealing the significant improvement of physicians in the management of AD patients with an increased ability to interpret severity scores, employ phototherapy as a treatment option, and prescribe both classically utilized and emerging treatment options [12]. Though the majority of the 217 physicians who had participated in the program and survey were from Buenos Aires Province and Capital Federal, participants from all 20 provinces did respond to the survey about ECHO-AD.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patients’ and Caregivers’ Experiences Navigating the Burden of Atopic Dermatitis in Argentina

Capozza,

Tu,

Schwartz

et al. 2024

Medicina

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Background and Objectives: Little is known about patients’ and caregivers’ experiences with atopic dermatitis (AD) in Argentina, so a survey was administered to learn more. Materials and Methods: A 53-item anonymous survey was administered in Spanish to adult AD patients (n = 334) and caregivers (n = 339) of pediatric AD patients in Argentina (total n = 673). Demographics, healthcare provider information, financial burden, disease severity, disease burden, level of disease-specific education, and experience with shared physician/patient decision making were collected. Linear and logistic regression models were used for statistical comparisons. Results: Survey respondents were overwhelmingly female (90.8%), as was the overall patient population (72.8%). Patients were seen mostly by healthcare specialists (66.8% dermatologists, 13.5% pediatricians, 7.7% allergists, and 7.2% general practitioners). Only 2.8% of respondents reported no symptoms, while 33.3%, 52.4%, and 11.5% reported mild, moderate, and severe AD disease, respectively. Anxiety/depression and pain/discomfort were the most impactful on respondents’ quality of life. Caregivers of children with moderate to severe AD and adult patients with severe AD reported a significant financial burden, including using savings or not purchasing food or other essentials to afford medical care. Few people reported receiving disease-specific education or having their own treatment priorities taken into consideration. For adult patients, receiving disease education and being asked about treatment priorities were associated with higher treatment satisfaction and AD control. Discussion: Mental health, pain/discomfort, and financial worries are the most important burdens for adult AD patients and caregivers of children with AD in Argentina. We recommend prioritizing disease-specific education and shared decision making to improve AD care in Argentina.

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“…In many countries in Latin America, before the COVID-19, the main telemedicine interaction used was between clinicians, allowing consultation with colleagues with or without the support of transferring data or clinical results 8 …”

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confidence: 99%

“…7 In many countries in Latin America, before the COVID-19, the main telemedicine interaction used was between clinicians, allowing consultation with colleagues with or without the support of transferring data or clinical results. 8 Not every patient-physician interaction or medical intervention using distance technology should be considered telemedicine. Whether information or interface communication systems use a good level of encryption, security, privacy, and confidentiality should be guaranteed to fulfill the current norms of data protection.…”

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confidence: 99%

Telehealth and Telemedicine in Latin American Rheumatology, a New Era After COVID-19

Graf¹,

Fernández-Ávila

Plazzotta³

et al. 2023

J Clin Rheumatol

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Telemedicine is the delivery of health care services by health care professionals using information and communication technologies to exchange valid information for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases. Telemedicine was further developed in Latin America during the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, becoming the first line of defense for health professionals to stop the spread of infections and allow them to continue the care of their patients. During the pandemic, 79% of rheumatologists in Latin America reported the use of remote communication, the most frequent being the use of phone calls and WhatsApp voice messages. In contrast, 84% of the patients reported that telemedicine was appropriate for them during the pandemic, but only 54% considered telemedicine to be a valid option for rheumatic health care after the pandemic. Telemedicine and telehealth have advantages such as lower costs, improved access in rural areas, shortage of care providers, and reduction in waiting time for appointments. However, it also has some challenges, such as legal, technological, and organizational barriers. In this review, we explore the current state of telemedicine in Latin America and discuss its future.

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ECHO project in atopic dermatitis in Argentina: An innovative strategy to reach underserved areas with up to date knowledge, first year of experience

Cited by 4 publications

References 5 publications

Healthcare Disparities in Atopic Dermatitis in Latin America: A Narrative Review

Healthcare Disparities in Atopic Dermatitis in Latin America: A Narrative Review

Patients’ and Caregivers’ Experiences Navigating the Burden of Atopic Dermatitis in Argentina

Telehealth and Telemedicine in Latin American Rheumatology, a New Era After COVID-19

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