Atopic Dermatitis: group experience with children and their relatives at Dermatology Clinic of Health

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, characterized by intense itching and frequently associated with other atopic diseases. This article reports a group experience among children with AD, their relatives and a health care team at Dermatology Clinic of Health. The team has an interdisciplinary approach, including physicians, psychologists, nutritionists and social workers. The meetings took place once a month, with twenty people on average. The mains subjects were the skin care and the psychosocial aspects related to disease development and worsening. The findings suggest that the interdisciplinary approach resulted in rising treatment adherence, demonstrated by kids regular presence in both groups and individual appointments. The results also showed that parents, who provide a secure relationship with their children, showed greater cooperation with the routine care of children, with better clinical course and skin lesions reduction.