Improving Therapeutic Patient Education for Atopic Dermatitis: Evaluation of a Parent Handbook

The objective of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational handbook for parents of children with atopic dermatitis (AD) in improving clinical outcomes for pediatric patients with AD and their parents. The handbook was developed by an interdisciplinary team of healthcare providers to facilitate therapeutic patient education as a routine component of care for pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Patient education is an important element of practice management guidelines for AD, particularly given complex treatment plans and high rates of non-adherence in this population. Parents of children with AD will be randomized into either the handbook arm (handbook provided as an adjunct to standard AD management with a healthcare provider at Boston Children's Hospital) or the control arm (standard management alone). Participants will complete study measures at two time points: baseline (prior to a clinic visit appointment for AD care at Boston Children's Hospital), and 3-month follow-up. Data will be analyzed for change on study outcome measures (AD symptoms, AD severity, quality of life) and satisfaction with the handbook.

Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of atopic dermatitis
* Scheduled for clinic visit for evaluation/management of atopic dermatitis at Boston Children's Hospital

Exclusion Criteria:

* Parent is Spanish speaking
* Parent is foster parent