[Patient education for adults with atopic dermatitis according to the ARNE concept]

Atopic dermatitis (AD) represents a chronic inflammatory skin disease showing a 1-year prevalence of 2-3% during adulthood. In a national randomized, controlled multicenter study initiated by the "Arbeitsgemeinschaft Neurodermitisschulung im Erwachsenenalter" (ARNE, Working Group on Educational Training for Adults with Atopic Dermatitis) a program for structured patient education conducted by a multiprofessional team was developed and evaluated. At 1‑year follow-up, coping behavior with respect to itch (assessed by the "Juckreiz-Kognitions-Fragebogen", p < 0.001) and in quality of life (Skindex-29, p < 0.001) significantly improved in patients who had participated in this 12 h patient educational program (n = 168) compared to the waiting control group (n = 147). Moreover, the training led to a significantly greater reduction in disease severity (SCORAD Index, p < 0.001). In this first randomized, controlled multicenter study on effects of patient education in adulthood AD, significant beneficial effects on both psychosocial parameters and the disease severity could be demonstrated.