Potential barriers to adherence in pediatric dermatology

Rachel M Ellis1, Laine H Koch, Erin McGuire

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, USA. ellisrm@evms.edu

Insights

Caregivers find medication cost and safety concerning for children with chronic inflammatory skin diseases like atopic dermatitis. Understanding the long-term nature of these skin conditions is also a challenge.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Dermatology
  • Dermatology
  • Chronic Inflammatory Skin Diseases

Background:

  • Chronic inflammatory skin diseases significantly impact children's quality of life.
  • Atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and acne vulgaris are common conditions requiring long-term management.
  • Identifying treatment barriers is crucial for improving patient adherence and outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify barriers to treatment adherence in pediatric patients with chronic inflammatory skin diseases.
  • To assess caregiver perspectives on treatment complexity, time, cost, formulation, safety, and understanding of chronicity.
  • To inform strategies for better management of pediatric skin conditions.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 101 pediatric patients with chronic inflammatory skin diseases.
  • Caregivers completed an 11-item Likert scale questionnaire.
  • The survey assessed perceptions of treatment complexity, time, medication cost, vehicle formulation, safety, and understanding of disease chronicity.

Main Results:

  • Caregivers reported adequate instructions but felt less confident during severe disease flares.
  • Treatment complexity, time, and vehicle type were not major barriers.
  • Significant concerns were raised regarding medication cost and perceived safety.
  • Caregivers demonstrated a limited understanding of the chronic nature of these skin disorders.

Conclusions:

  • Medication cost and safety are key concerns for caregivers managing pediatric chronic inflammatory skin diseases.
  • Improving caregiver understanding of disease chronicity is essential for effective long-term management.
  • Addressing financial and safety concerns may enhance treatment adherence in pediatric dermatology.

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