Factors Influencing Family Burden of Paediatric Patients with Atopic Dermatitis: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, recurrent inflammatory skin condition that affects about 10–20% of children and 2-15% of adults in developed countries (1). In Singapore, the prevalence among children and adolescents is 20.8% (2). Itchiness, the most common complaint, results in behavioural and social impairments among paediatric AD patients, which in turn impacts on the wellbeing of caregivers, particularly family members (3, 4). A sick child can markedly affect normal family life and the mental and social wellbeing of other family members (5). Their family members, namely parents, may experience feelings of helplessness and stress as they struggle to treat their child’s symptoms, and this can lead to feelings of guilt as they feel they are failing in their duty to care for their offspring (6). In return, family quality of life can greatly influence patient-related outcomes. Previous studies have demonstrated that paediatric atopic eczema can significantly affect family life; however, they provide limited quantitative data on the factors influencing family life and functions (6). Therefore, we conducted this study in an effort to gain in-depth insights into the family burden caused by paediatric AD, and to explore the social and clinical factors potentially impacting family life and function.