Parental Response to Written Eczema Action Plans in Children With Eczema

The treatment of eczema in the pediatric population can be a complex and dynamic process. A typical care plan may include over-the-counter and prescription topical agents, oral medications, as well as bathing and dietary recommendations. Inevitable disease fluctuations demand treatment modification and thus parental and patient confusion can easily occur. Unsurprisingly, adherence in eczema management is poor and has been reported to be as low as 32% with simple regimens.1 Similar to eczema, asthma is a fluctuating disease with evolving treatment plans. To address this, written asthma action plans provide an educational framework for disease self-management and are effective at improving adherence and decreasing exacerbations.2, 3 Previous studies have suggested that an individualized written Eczema Action Plan (EAP) has the potential to serve as a specific treatment guideline that addresses each patient’s fluctuating treatment regimen.4,5 In this quality improvement study, we hypothesize that EAPs would be well-received by parents and improve their treatment confidence, particularly when managing eczema flares.