Related Experiment Videos
Atopic eczema: its impact on the family and financial cost
J C Su1, A S Kemp, G A Varigos
1Department of Dermatology, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Insights
Childhood atopic eczema significantly impacts families socially and financially. Management costs range from Aus$330 to $1255 annually, exceeding those for asthma.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Pediatrics
- Health Economics
Background:
- Childhood atopic eczema (CAE) presents significant challenges to families.
- Understanding the multifaceted impact of CAE is crucial for effective support and resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of childhood atopic eczema on families.
- To assess the personal financial cost associated with managing CAE.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was conducted in pediatric dermatology and diabetology outpatient clinics.
- Data were collected from parents of children with atopic eczema and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
- Key outcome measures included family impact scores, treatment costs, consultations, hospitalizations, and income loss.
Main Results:
- Families of children with moderate to severe atopic eczema reported a higher impact on family scores compared to families of diabetic children.
- The estimated annual personal financial cost for managing mild, moderate, and severe eczema was Aus$330, $818, and $1255, respectively.
- The financial burden of managing eczema exceeded that of asthma and represented a significant cost to both families and the community.
Conclusions:
- Childhood atopic eczema imposes a profound impact on families across social, personal, emotional, and financial domains.
- The findings highlight the substantial economic burden of CAE management, necessitating targeted interventions and support systems.
Objective:
To evaluate the impact of childhood atopic eczema on families and assess the personal financial cost of its management.
Design:
Cross sectional survey.
Setting:
Paediatric dermatology and paediatric diabetology outpatient clinics.
Patients:
Parents of 48 randomly selected children with atopic eczema and 46 with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.
Main Outcome Measures:
The impact on family score, the reported cost of relevant medical treatments, medical consultations, relevant hospitalisation, and income loss.
Results:
Families of children with moderate or severe atopic eczema had a significantly higher impact on family score than families of diabetic children. A conservative estimate of the annual personal financial cost of managing mild, moderate, and severe eczema was Aus$330, 818, and 1255, respectively. The financial cost to the community for the management of atopic eczema in the study groups was greater. The personal financial cost of managing eczema was greater than for asthma.
Conclusion:
Childhood atopic eczema has a profound impact on the social, personal, emotional, and financial perspectives of families.