Therapeutic Benefits in Atopic Dermatitis Care from the Patients' Perspective: Results of the German National Health Care Study ‘Atopic Health'

Abstract

Background/Aims: Numerous therapies are recommended to treat atopic dermatitis. The German national health care study ‘Atopic Health' generated nationwide data on the care situation from the patients' perspective. Methods: Data for 1,678 adult patients were collected within a retrospective cohort study throughout the year 2010. Six scores to capture satisfaction with care, quality of life (Dermatology Life Quality Index, EQ-5D-VAS), therapeutic success and benefits (Patient Benefit Index) were analyzed using descriptive methods and analysis of variance. Results: 82.1% of patients were highly satisfied with their treatment. Topical corticosteroids and climate therapies were associated with the best success ratings. Quality of life was moderately impaired (mean Dermatology Life Quality Index 8.5 ± 6.5). 88.4% of the patients indicated a relevant therapeutic benefit (Patient Benefit Index ≥1) with significantly better scores for topical immunomodulating therapies and climate therapies. Conclusion: The most frequently applied therapies presented pleasant success and benefit ratings, even if quality of life could be improved for more than one third of patients.

Chronic pruritus: evaluation of patient needs and treatment goals with a special regard to differences according to pruritus classification and sex

“…Collecting patient-reported data on therapeutic needs and benefits is highly relevant in dermatology for both routine care and clinical trials. 15,[38][39][40][41][42] The current study quantitatively analysed 27 therapeutic needs of 2747 patients with CP using routine data from the largest university itch centre in Germany. We used the PNQ as part of the PBI-P, which has been validated for patients with CP in particular.…”

Managing atopic dermatitis with systemic therapies in adults and adolescents: An Australian/New Zealand narrative

“…12 Whilst there are no quality studies of oral corticosteroid use for the management of atopic dermatitis, [13][14][15][16][17] they are widely prescribed, with a high satisfaction rating by patients. 7,18 Similarly, the studies of intramuscular triamcinolone, 19,20 intravenous methylprednisolone 21 or subcutaneous ACTH depot 22,23 are all of low quality, although they do indicate short-term response. A 4-week study in 26 children with severe atopic dermatitis compared combined oral and nasal beclomethasone dipropionate (1200 lg/day) to placebo.…”

Therapieziele und Therapienutzen bei dermatologischen Patienten

“…Der PBI ist ein validiertes Instrument zur Erhebung der Patientenbedürfnisse und Therapieziele [4] und wird in der dermatologischen Versorgungsforschung häufig angewandt [5,7,10]. Im ersten Teil (Patient Needs Questionnaire, PNQ) wird mit einer fünfstufigen Likert-Skala (0 = "gar nicht wichtig" bis 4 = "sehr wichtig") erhoben, wie relevant die 23 Items im Sinne von Therapiebedürfnissen oder persönlichen Therapiezielen für den einzelnen Patienten in der Behandlung seiner Hautkrankheit sind.…”

“…Dies bedeutet, dass die Patienten im Mittel einen relevanten Nutzen aus ihrer entsprechenden Therapie ziehen (PBI ≥ 1). Patienten mit Neurodermitis aus der AtopicHealth-Studie hatten einen höheren PBI von 2,4 ± 1,1 [10], ebenso Patienten mit Psoriasis aus der PsoHealth-Studie (mPBI = 2,5 ± 1,1) [5,7] und Patienten mit Handekzem (mPBI = 2,7 ± 1,4) [8]. Die beiden aus Patientensicht wichtigsten Therapieziele "Vertrauen in die Therapie zu haben" und "eine klare Diagnose und Therapie zu finden" erreichten die höchsten Nutzenwerte.…”