Duration of Dermatitis Before Patch Test Appointment Is Associated With Distance to Clinic and County Poverty Rate

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Contact dermatitis is a prevalent skin condition negatively impacting patients' quality of life.
• Timely diagnosis and treatment are crucial for managing contact dermatitis effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of travel distance and socioeconomic factors on the duration of dermatitis before patients seek specialized care.
• To identify barriers to accessing patch testing services.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of patient data from a contact dermatitis and patch testing center (March 2012 - August 2018).
• Examined associations between dermatitis duration, distance to clinic, and socioeconomic variables including age, race, payor group, county poverty rate, and rural-urban status.

Main Results:

• Median dermatitis duration was 14 months, with a median travel distance of 18 miles.
• A 50-mile increase in travel distance correlated with a 17.9% increase in dermatitis duration (P < 0.001).
• A 5% increase in county poverty rate correlated with a 16.3% increase in dermatitis duration (P = 0.032).
• Trends indicated longer dermatitis duration associated with insurance payor, rural-urban status, and race.

Conclusions:

• Geographic distance to patch testing providers is a significant barrier for patients with dermatitis.
• County poverty level is an important indicator of access to care for dermatitis patients.
• Addressing these access barriers is essential for improving patient outcomes in contact dermatitis management.