Effectiveness of the Eczema Action Plan (EAP) in improving the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) scores among pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial

Authors: Maria Elinor Grace Q. Sison, MD, Georgina C Pastorfide, MD, FPDS, Johanna Pauline H. Lazo-Dizon, MD, FPDS, Francesca Mari P. Sumilang, MD, Marie Len A. Camaclang, MD, Katrina Faith A. San Gabriel, RPh, MD, DPPS

Abstract

Introduction/Background: Atopic dermatitis is a chronically relapsing skin disease that occurs most commonly during early infancy and childhood. There are no reported studies on interventions done to increase treatment adherence among patients with atopic dermatitis in the local setting.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of eczema action plan (EAP) in improving the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) among patients with atopic dermatitis.

Methods: An eczema action plan was given to patients with atopic dermatitis. It was translated to Filipino and back translated to English followed by pretesting. Those in the control group only received verbal instructions while those in the intervention group received an eczema action plan in addition to the verbal instructions. Change in the patient’s EASI scores were measured at baseline, after 2 weeks, and after 1 month.

Results: We had 44 patients; 23 received EAP, and 21 without EAP. Age, sex and change in EASI scores were similar at baseline. At Week 4, differences in the EASI scores were statistically significant (p value = 0.021). The proportion of participants who achieved a change in EASI from the baseline is 73.9% for the EAP group and 66.7% for the non-EAP group but these were not statistically significant (p value = 0.60). Using the EAP can improve the severity of patients with atopic dermatitis as shown by the reductions in the EASI scores.

Conclusions: We have shown in this study that the EAP is effective in decreasing the EASI scores of patients with atopic dermatitis after 1 month.

 

Citation

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Keywords

atopic dermatitis, eczema action plan, Eczema Area and Severity Index score

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