Healthcare Professionals' Knowledge and Behaviors Regarding Drug-Dietary Supplement and Drug-Herbal Product Interactions.

Given the widespread use of dietary supplements (DS) and herbal products (HP), healthcare professionals (HCPs) will increasingly encounter patients who use these preparations with conventional drugs and who need their services to reduce the consequences of adverse therapeutic outcomes. The aim of our survey was to assess the knowledge and behaviors of HCPs regarding the risk of potential drug−dietary supplement (DDSIs) and drug−herbal product (DHPIs) interactions. This cross-sectional survey collected data via on paper-based questionnaire among general practitioners (GPs) (n = 105), specialty doctors (n = 87) and nurses (n = 154). The HCPs were mostly familiar with the interaction of doxycycline with magnesium (83%) and were least familiar with interaction of warfarin with glucosamine (14%). The results on DDSIs and DHPIs knowledge showed that GPs scored significantly higher than nurses (p < 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively), while specialty doctors scored significantly higher than nurses only on DDSIs knowledge (p < 0.001). Only 28% of respondents reported that they often or always ask patients on drug therapy about the use of DS or HP, and 25% of respondents record such data in the medical documentation of patients. Our results showed that HCPs have sufficient knowledge about most major DDSIs and DHPIs, but insufficient knowledge about most moderate interactions. However, their overall knowledge and behavior regarding the risk of these interactions indicate the need for further continuing education and training.

Impact of atopic dermatitis on the quality of life of children and their families.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common chronic inflammatory skin disease, with a significant effect on the quality of life (QoL). This study aims to evaluate the impact of AD on the QoL of children and their parents and to identify predictors affecting their QoL. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted in Montenegro. It included 200 children with AD aged 5-16 years and their parents. The severity of disease was measured by the Three Item Severity (TIS) score, while QoL was assessed with the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) and the Dermatitis Family Impact (DFI) questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean CDLQI score of the children affected by AD was 17.11 and the mean DFI score of their parents 19.86. There was a significant correlation between AD severity score assessed by a doctor (TIS) and both CDLQI and DFI scores (r=0.53 and r=0.27, respectively). A moderate positive correlation was observed between the QoL of children with AD and QoL of their parents (r=0.53). According to multiple linear regression, more impaired QoL of affected children was associated with more severe AD, younger parent's age and their lower educational level. Poorer QoL of parents was associated with female sex, younger age of children, more severe AD, lower educational level of parents and absence of a family history of atopic disease. CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirmed that AD has a large negative impact on QoL of both patients with AD and their families. More impaired QoL was associated with more severe AD.

Quality of life in infants with atopic dermatitis and their families.

INTRODUCTION: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common chronic inflammatory skin disease, with a significant effect on quality of life (QoL). AIM: To evaluate the impact of AD on QoL of Montenegrin infants and their parents and to identify predictors affecting their QoL. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2017 and July 2018 and included 186 infants with AD aged 0-4 years and their parents. The severity of disease was measured by the Three-Item Severity (TIS) score, while QoL was assessed with the Infants' Dermatitis Quality of Life Index (IDQOL) and the Dermatitis Family Impact (DFI) questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean overall scores were 14.72 for IDQOL and 17.78 for DFI. The positive correlation was observed between AD severity and both the IDQOL and DFI scores (r = 0.61, p < 0.001 and r = 0.67, p < 0.001, respectively). The highest-scoring IDQOL items were "itching and scratching", and "child's mood". Poorer infants' QoL was associated with more serious AD (B = 2.56; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.08-3.04), concomitant atopic disease (B = 3.86; 95% CI: 1.78-5.94), family history of atopic disease (B = 3.80; 95% CI: 1.84-5.77), older age of the child (B = 1.14; 95% CI: 0.20-2.07) and older age of the parent (B = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.04-0.53). Similarly, parents had poorer QoL if their infants had more severe AD (B = 2.56; 95% CI: 2.14-2.87), another atopic disease (B = 2.91; 95% CI: 0.99-4.84) or family history of atopic disease (B = 4.33; 95% CI: 2.57-6.09). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that AD has a significant negative impact on infants' QoL as well as on QoL of their parents.