Original scientific paper
The Impact of Atopic Dermatitis and Corticophobia on the Quality of Family Life
Oksana Kotarski
; Health Center Vukovar, Department of Public Health Nursing, Vukovar, Croatia
Marija Pečnjak
; Department of Pediatrics, General Hospital “Dr Josip Benčević”, Slavonski Brod, Croatia
Mario Blekić
; Department of Pediatrics, General Hospital “Dr Josip Benčević”, Slavonski Brod, Croatia
Ivana Bukvić
; School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Blaženka Kljaić Bukvić
; Department of Pediatrics, General Hospital “Dr Josip Benčević”, Slavonski Brod, Croatia
Abstract
ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of atopic der-
matitis (AD) in children and corticophobia on the quality of family life. Chil-
dren with AD and their parents were included in a cross-sectional study. The
severity of AD was self-assessed using the Patient Oriented-Scoring of Atopic
Dermatitis (PO-SCORAD) index, and the severity of corticophobia using the
Topical Corticosteroid Phobia (TOPICOP) score, and the general impact of
AD on family quality of life using the Family Dermatology Life Quality Index
(FDLQI). We included 330 parents, mostly mothers (99.4%) and children with
a median age of 3 years (interquartile range, IQR 1.5-5.0 years). The median
values of the PO SCORAD index and TOPICOP score were: 19.1 (IQR 13.6-24.1)
and 58.3 (IQR 41.7-72.2), respectively. The median FDQLI score was 12 (IQR
7-16). The influence of independent variables such as parental age, child’s
age, child’s gender, family history of allergies, place of residence, parental
education, associated allergic disease in the child, PO SCORAD, and the TOPI-
COP score on the FDLQI was analysed. The significant models were the age
of the parents (protective factor), the PO SCORAD index, and the TOPICOP
score, which together accounted for 26.1% of the variability of FDLQI. Concu-
sion of the study is that AD in children, its severity, and the parent’s fear of
chronic corticosteroid treatment impair the quality of family life.
Keywords
atopic dermatitis; children; family quality of life,; corticophobia
Hrčak ID:
311532
URI
Publication date:
16.3.2023.
Visits: 523 *