Itch Relief, Lesion Control Are Key Focuses in Managing Pediatric AD
Researchers aimed to understand the treatment goals and preferences of young patients with atopic dermatitis and their caregivers.
Patients with pediatric atopic dermatitis (AD) and their caregivers commonly aim to reduce itching and control skin lesions for effective treatment, according to a study published in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment.1 Researchers believe that the understanding of patients’ and caregivers’ individual needs is crucial for the safe and effective treatment of AD in younger patients.
“AD is a common chronic skin disease, affecting up to 20% of children and 10% of adults,” wrote authors of the study. “AD is characterized by relapsing eczematous lesions, intense itch and disturbed sleep, and can have a multidimensional impact on the quality of life of patients and their families. Given its evolving nature at different stages of life, managing AD in young patients can be challenging.”
According to Pediatrics, the current standard of care for treating AD in younger patients is through the use of topical anti-inflammatory medications—namely topical corticosteroids. With some lifestyle recommendations and products to avoid in the current guidelines as well, study authors also mention proactive approaches to treating AD in the pediatric population.2
Researchers address the paradox of new therapies emerging for AD treatment and how it has made clinical decision-making more challenging. | image credit: Kwangmoozaa / stock.adobe.com
READ MORE: Once Daily Acne Therapy Shown to Reduce Lesions, Inflammation
However, every patient within the pediatric AD population is seemingly diverse, leading to an ever-increasing volume of information and recommendations for clinicians, pharmacists, and dermatology specialists to navigate. Authors of the current study discussed the paradox of new therapies emerging for AD treatment and how it has made clinical decision-making more challenging.
These recent trends in guidelines and recommendations for care in children with AD have led researchers to put the focus on patient’s treatment preferences and AD caregivers’ goals for effective treatment.
“Given the limited studies addressing the needs of young AD patients and their caregivers, this study primarily aims to explore the treatment goals and preferences of children, adolescents, and young adults with AD and their caregivers,” they continued.1 “Secondary objectives include the stratification of treatment goals and preferences by age, gender, self-reported disease severity, current treatment, lesion visibility, and the presence of atopic comorbidities.”
Researchers conducted a web-based survey for children, adolescents, and young adults with AD. Children were considered any patients with AD from 6 to 11, adolescents were 12 to 17, and young adults were 18 to 30. Furthermore, each study participant’s caregiver was given a survey as well. Survey questions focused on burdensome symptoms, treatment goals, and the importance of treatment characteristics, among other areas.
To rate patients’ treatment goals and characteristics, researchers used a multiple-choice, four-point Likert scale. It consisted of potential responses that denoted a treatment goal or preference was not important (0), not really important (1), important (2), and very important (3).
A total of 286 survey respondents were included in the final analysis (182 patients with AD, 104 caregivers).
“Patients and caregivers prioritize achieving itch relief and preventing and clearing AD lesions with effective and safe treatment,” wrote the authors.1 “Despite many similarities, young patients and caregivers report different needs. Caregivers consider safety concerns to be more important than young patients, while young patients consider the convenience of treatment (e.g., ‘consumes little time,’ ‘easy to travel with,’ and ‘not sticky/greasy’) to be more important than caregivers.”
Some treatment goals in survey responses included achieving long- or short-term safety, while treatment characteristics that were popular included little time consumption and inexpensive treatment options. However, the authors noted that these preferences varied among children, adolescents, and young adults with AD as well as caregivers. But achieving reductions in itch and AD lesions were reported as significant priorities to all survey respondents.
“Occasionally referred to as direct care, the modern dermatology model is based on an individualized approach,” wrote Hannah Celian for Nextech.3 “It involves factors such as lifestyle, diet, underlying health conditions, and other environmental influences that may have affected the skin. With more specialized care, patients receive comprehensive treatment plans with an emphasis on long-term prevention and meaningful patient engagement is essential to the encounter.”
As therapeutic options for treating AD continue to grow, the need for more patient-centered care is apparent. According to authors of the current study, as well as many experts within health care, starting with better understanding of patients’ needs and preferences can ensure a significant improvement on outcomes in dermatological care and beyond.
“These results underline the importance of addressing individual needs of young AD patients and caregivers,” concluded authors of the study.1 “In addition, these results highlight the necessity of incorporating individual perspectives into the decision-making process, thereby contributing to patient-centered care.”
READ MORE: Dermatology Resource Center
Ready to impress your pharmacy colleagues with the latest drug information, industry trends, and patient care tips? Sign up today for our free Drug Topics newsletter.
