Age related, structured educational programmes for the management of atopic dermatitis in children and adolescents: multicentre, randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of age related, structured educational programmes on the management of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in childhood and adolescence. DESIGN: Multicentre, randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Seven hospitals in Germany. PARTICIPANTS: Parents of children with atopic dermatitis aged 3 months to 7 years (n = 274) and 8-12 years (n = 102), adolescents with atopic dermatitis aged 13-18 years (n = 70), and controls (n = 244, n = 83, and n = 50, respectively). INTERVENTIONS: Group sessions of standardised intervention programmes for atopic dermatitis once weekly for six weeks or no education (control group). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Severity of eczema (scoring of atopic dermatitis scale), subjective severity (standardised questionnaires), and quality of life for parents of affected children aged less than 13 years, over 12 months. RESULTS: Significant improvements in severity of eczema and subjective severity were seen in all intervention groups compared with control groups (total score for severity: age 3 months to 7 years – 17.5, 95% confidence intervals – 19.6 to – 15.3 v – 12.2, – 14.3 to – 10.1; age 8-12 years – 16.0, – 20.0 to – 12.0 v – 7.8, – 11.4; – 4.3; and age 13-18 years – 19.7, – 23.7 to – 15.7 v – 5.2, – 10.5 to 0.1). Parents of affected children aged less than 7 years experienced significantly better improvement in all five quality of life subscales, whereas parents of affected children aged 8-12 years experienced significantly better improvement in three of five quality of life subscales. CONCLUSION: Age related educational programmes for the control of atopic dermatitis in children and adolescents are effective in the long term management of the disease.