Skin care knowledge, attitudes and practices: a comparative study between patients with atopic dermatitis and healthy...

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease that significantly impacts patient quality of life and demands specific skin care practices. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to skin care among patients with AD and the practices (P) concerning skin care among the healthy individuals.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January 1, 2023, to January 30, 2024, at Quanzhou Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University. Data were collected via questionnaires distributed to both the general population and patients with AD.

The study enrolled 305 individuals from the general population and 306 patients, all providing valid questionnaire responses. Among patients, 67.0% had adequate knowledge, 72.7% had a positive attitude, and 59.2% demonstrated proactive practice. In the general population, 62.3% achieved adequate skin care practice. Direct and indirect effects showed that, for knowledge, age (-0.237, 95% CI: -0.328 to -0.146, p < 0.001) and insurance (-0.117, 95% CI: -0.209 to -0.025, p = 0.013) had negative direct effects, whereas income (0.186, 95% CI: 0.086 to 0.285, p < 0.001) and education (0.339, 95% CI: 0.243 to 0.435, p < 0.001) showed positive direct effects. In the attitude domain, income exerted a direct effect (0.238, 95% CI: 0.134 to 0.342, p < 0.001) on attitudes, and also had an indirect effect (0.055, 95% CI: 0.020 to 0.090, p = 0.002) through other mediating variables such as age and education. Additional direct effects were noted for age, insurance, and education on attitude, with respective p-values less than 0.024. For practice, gender and knowledge exhibited strong direct effects, and education demonstrated both direct (0.175, 95% CI: 0.077 to 0.272, p < 0.001) and indirect effects (0.122, 95% CI: 0.074 to 0.169, p < 0.001). The attitudes towards practice also displayed a direct effect (0.253, 95% CI: 0.160 to 0.346, p < 0.001).

The findings suggest that patients with AD generally possess adequate knowledge and demonstrate positive attitudes towards their condition. Both patients and the healthy individuals exhibit suboptimal practices in skin care management, highlighting the need for targeted educational interventions to improve the overall management of AD.

Not applicable.