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. 2021 Mar 5:3:8-13.
doi: 10.1016/j.jdin.2021.01.001. eCollection 2021 Jun.

Therapeutic education in atopic dermatitis: A position paper from the International Eczema Council

Lawrence F Eichenfield  1   2   3 , Ayan Kusari  1 , Allison M Han  1 , Sébastien Barbarot  4 , Mette Deleuran  5 , Peter Lio  6 , Danielle Marcoux  7 , Audrey Nosbaum  8 , Jean-Francois Stalder  4
Affiliations

Therapeutic education in atopic dermatitis: A position paper from the International Eczema Council

Lawrence F Eichenfield et al. JAAD Int. .

Abstract

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease that affects as many as 12.5% of children aged 0-17 years and 3% of the adult population. In the United States, 31.6 million children and adults are estimated to be living with AD.

Objective: Therapeutic patient education (TPE) has proven its value in the management of chronic diseases for which adherence to therapy is suboptimal. This article explores experts' opinions and treatment practices to determine if TPE is a recommended and effective method for treating AD.

Methods: Forty-two (51%) of 82 Councilors and Associates of the International Eczema Council (IEC), an international group with expertise in AD, responded to an electronic survey on TPE and AD.

Results: Most respondents (97.5%) agreed that TPE should play an important role in the management of AD. Many respondents (82.9%) believed that all patients with AD, regardless of disease severity, could benefit from TPE.

Limitations: The International Eczema Council survey lacks specific information on AD severity.

Conclusions: Publications have shown the positive effect of TPE on the course of the disease, the prevention of complications, and the autonomy and quality of patient life. Survey respondents agreed that TPE can improve the quality of patient care and patient satisfaction with care.

Keywords: AD, atopic dermatitis; EAP, eczema action plan; IEC, International Eczema Council; QOL, quality of life; TPE, therapeutic patient education; atopic dermatitis; corticosteroids; e-learning; eczema; eczema action plan; pruritus; quality of life; therapeutic education; therapeutic patient education.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr Eichenfield is an advisory board member with honorarium for Ortho Derm/Valeant; a data safety monitoring board member for Glenmark; a consultant with honorarium for Almirall, Arcutis, Asana, Biersdorf, Celgene, Dermavant, Dermira, DS Biopharma, Forte, Galderma Labs, Incyte, Kyowa Hakkin Kirin, Leo, Lilly, Matrisys, Menlo Therapeutics, Novan, Ortho Derm/Valeant, Novartis, Otsuka/Medimetriks, and Pfizer/Anacor; a consultant with no compensation for TopMD; an investigator with honorarium for AbbVie and Pfizer/Anacor; and an investigator with no compensation for Leo and Regeneron/Sanofi. Dr Barbarot received research grants from Pierre Fabre Laboratory and Fondation pour la dermatite atopique and honorarium from Bioderma, Laboratoire La Roche Posay, Sanofi-Genzyme, AbbVie, Novartis, Janssen, and Leo Pharma. Dr Deleuran is an advisor/consultant for AbbVie, AOBiome, Dermavant, Dermira, Eli Lilly, Exeltis, Galderma, IntraDerm, Johnson and Johnson, Kiniksa, L'Oreal, Menlo Therapeutics, Micreos, Pfizer, Pierre Fabre, Realm, Regeneron/Sanofi-Genzyme, Theraplex, UCB, and Unilever and a speaker for L'Oreal, Pfizer, and Regeneron/Sanofi-Genzyme. Dr Lio is an investigator for AbbVie, Regeneron/Sanofi-Genzyme, and AOBiome; an advisor/consultant for AbbVie, AOBiome, Dermavant, Dermira, Eli Lilly, Exeltis, Galderma, IntraDerm, Johnson and Johnson, Kiniksa, L'Oreal, Menlo Therapeutics, Micreos, Pfizer, Pierre Fabre, Realm, Regeneron/Sanofi-Genzyme, Theraplex, UCB, and Unilever; and a speaker for L'Oreal, Pfizer, and Regeneron/Sanofi-Genzyme. Dr Marcoux is a principal investigator for AbbVie, Celgene, Leo Pharma, Lilly, Pfizer, and Sanofi; an advisory board member for AbbVie, Leo Pharma, Lilly Pfizer, and Sanofi; and a speaker for AbbVie, Leo Pharma, Lilly, Pfizer, and Sanofi. Dr Nosbaum is consultant/investigator for Sanofi Regeneron, Novartis, Lilly, Pfizer, Pierre Fabre, Medac, and AbbVie. Drs Kusari, Han, and Stalder have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Collective sessions for TPE in AD showing the advantages and disadvantages that result from the implementation of TPE in AD through lectures and workshops. AD, Atopic Dermatitis; TPE, therapeutic patient education.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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