Managing a child with atopic dermatitis can be difficult
and frustrating, but few studies have examined the effects of family stress,
depression and relationship satisfaction on disease management.
Australian researchers conducted a study among a sample
of 64 parent-child pairs from a pediatric dermatology clinic to assess the
severity of childhood atopic dermatitis and determine the effect of these
dynamics on self-reported performance of key management tasks. Study results
were presented at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy,
Asthma & Immunology in San Francisco.
“This study identified a number of potentially
modifiable factors that can be targeted to enhance parents’ self-efficacy
and improve parent management of child [atopic dermatitis],” study
researcher Amy E. Mitchell, of the Queensland University of Technology
School of Nursing in Brisbane, Australia, said during the meeting.
Variables that included atopic dermatitis severity,
child behavior difficulties, parent depression and stress, conflict over
parenting issues and parents’ relationship satisfactions were all
correlated with parents’ perceived success at performing atopic dermatitis
management tasks (P<.05).
Child behavior (P=.003) and parents’ formal
education level (P=.001) were identified as factors that influenced
parents’ confidence in their ability to effectively manage their
child’s disorder.
Atopic dermatitis severity (P=.047), relationship
satisfaction (P=.040), child behavior (P=.009) and formal
education (P=.007) played significant roles in self-reported performance
of atopic dermatitis management, data indicated.
“Interventions should focus on child behavior and
parenting issues to support parents caring for children with [atopic
dermatitis] and improve child outcomes,” the researchers concluded.
For more information:
- Mitchell AE. #123. Presented at: 2011 Annual Meeting of the
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; March 18-22, 2011; San
Francisco.
Disclosure: The researchers reported no relevant financial disclosures.