Development and Evaluation of an Atopic Dermatitis Care Plan for Providers

Background/Significance of problem: Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is a common, chronic, inflammatory dermatosis and skin disease that follows a relapsing pattern and requires a dynamic stepwise approach to management. Providers feel comfortable treating chronic disease states with a guided tool or care plan in many chronic diseases. Care plans used in many chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, and COPD have demonstrated effectiveness in disease and healthcare provider management. There is an unmet need for a universal AD care plan for providers. Clinical question/project purpose: A universal AD care plan was developed to improve AD disease management and patient outcomes. Post-implementation of providers & perceptions was assessed for how the AD universal care plan affected their ability to provide patient education. Search of literature/best evidence: Review of literature includes: CINAHL, ProQuest Health, PubMed, Fusion, and UpToDate databases from 2008-2018.Search terms included: Atopic Dermatitis, Eczema, care plans, care plan use in chronic disease. Clinical appraisal of literature/best evidence: Analysis of the evidence supported the need for AD education, which then supported the need for a universal AD care plan for providers. Integration into practice: "Your Eczema Care Plan" was used by thirty-five healthcare providers to improve patient outcomes in a similar manner as other evidence-based care plans.Evaluation of evidenced-based practice: Post-implementation of providers & perceptions were evaluated on how the AD care plan tool affected their ability to provide patient education. Results suggest patient education, disease management, and QOL are all improved when utilizing "Your Eczema Action Plan." J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(10): 950-955. doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.5090.