The burden of parents of children with atopic dermatitis during the pandemic

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Atopic dermatitis is a common pediatric cutaneous inflammatory disease. Moderate and severe cases are associated with a signed parental burden. Therapeutic parental education, regular follow-up, written treatment plans, and spending enough time with the patient have positively impacted burden reduction. In order to maintain social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, direct dermatological consultations were reduced. The survey focused on the mode of consultations done for Atopic Dermatitis during the pandemic and the satisfaction regarding the same, self-reported details regarding flares of the disease - frequency and duration, and parental-care giver burden during this socialdistancing demanding period. Method: An electronic survey was distributed among parents of children aged from 0 to 16 years with atopic dermatitis in Saudi Arabia between October 12 and December 12, 2020. The survey discusses the different burdens during and before the pandemic, including financial, number and period of flares, sleep quality, job quality, and the treatments used. The study also discusses the type of earned medical advice, including onsite visits, virtual consultation, others or none. Results: A total of 242 caregivers responded;103 female and 139 male children. Of these, 145 respondents had consultations during the pandemic, including 72 (49.7) onsite consultations. Out of the 73 (50.3%) online respondents, 53.4% were satisfied, than 35.6% were unsatisfied with the consultation, while the rest had a neutral opinion. Moreover, the parental burden before and during the pandemic seems similar. Discussion: Teledermatology represents an effective method in treating pediatric atopic dermatitis and avoiding the deterioration of the related parental quality of life in case of physically unreachable medical services.