Three Years of Italian Experience of an Educational Program for Parents of Young Children Affected by Atopic Dermatitis: Improving Knowledge Produces Lower Anxiety Levels in Parents of Children with Atopic Dermatitis

Abstract

The chronic course of atopic dermatitis is a problem for children and their families: it can be extremely disabling, and may cause psychologic problems for both child and family. As atopic dermatitis affects 10% of the pediatric population, pediatricians and dermatologists spend much time on the treatment of this disease, which requires a multidisciplinary approach. To improve the quality of life of children and families affected by atopic dermatitis we have offered an educational program to the parents of young children affected by the disease. The program consists of six meetings at weekly intervals involving a pediatric allergist, a dermatologist, and a psychologist. Our experience has been positive. This type of program may help to improve the quality of life of families with children affected by atopic dermatitis. Lower levels of anxiety were observed among parents at the end of the program. We believe that educational programs of this type, in association with conventional treatment, can be useful in the long term management of the disease. They may be considered to improve the quality of life of the family and children and to create more interaction and compliance between physicians, parents, and children.

Lack of information about multiple sclerosis in children can impact parents' sense of competency and satisfaction within the couple

“…There was also a clear correlation between limited knowledge about the child's illness and the overall sense of competence as a parent as reported on the PSOC. This finding is particularly relevant since it has been demonstrated in other childhood chronic illness studies that adequate and ongoing education and information about the child's illness is the most important factor protecting the couple relationship, and can improve anxiety, depression, quality of life, reduce a sense of fear that many parents experience and facilitate successful coping [6,14]. Currently in Italy, MS clinicians follow patients in adult neurology departments and have no training in pediatric populations.…”

“…Influencing all of these aspects is the knowledge the parent has of their child's illness. In fact, adequate and ongoing education and information has been demonstrated to be one of the most important factors protecting the couple relationship, and can improve anxiety, depression, quality of life, reduce a sense of fear that many parents experience and can facilitate successful coping [6,14].…”

Quality of life, depression, and anxiety in Turkish children with vitiligo and their parents

“…As for caregivers, most commonly emerging psychiatric diagnoses following paediatric dermatosis have been defined as anxiety and depression [30][31][32][33][34][35]. In quality of life studies conducted with relatives of individuals with chronic skin conditions, anxiety and depression have frequently been underlined [28,[36][37][38]. This might be related to the fact that the caregiver not possessing good-enough adjustment mechanisms in confronting his/her child's illness, through a disruption in the ideal image of their children within the parents' minds, following an adversity emerging regarding the physical appearance of the child [39].…”

Quality of life, alexithymia, anxiety and depression symptoms among mothers of children with atopic dermatitis

“…In 90% of patients, the disease manifests in the first five years of life. A remarkable increase in disease prevalence has been observed over the last 30 years (2).…”