Korean journal of dermatology (대한피부과학회지)

Korean Dermatological Association (대한피부과학회)
권호 표지

A Survey on Understanding of Atopic Dermatitis among Korean Patients

아토피피부염에 대한 환자의 인식도 설문조사 연구

  • Kim, Dong Ha (Department of Dermatology, Chung Ang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Li, Kapsok (Department of Dermatology, Chung Ang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Seo, Seong Jun (Department of Dermatology, Chung Ang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Jo, Sun Jin (Department of Preventive Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine) ;
  • Yim, Hyeon Woo (Department of Preventive Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Churl Min (Department of Family Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Kyu Han (Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Do Won (Department of Dermatology, Kyungpook National University, College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Moon-Bum (Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Jin Woo (Department of Dermatology, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine) ;
  • Ro, Young Suck (Department of Dermatology, Hanyang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Park, Young Lip (Department of Dermatology, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Park, Chun Wook (Department of Dermatology, Hallym University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Seung-Chul (Department of Dermatology, Chonnam National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Cho, Sang Hyun (Department of Dermatology, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine)
  • 김동하 (중앙대학교 의과대학 피부과학교실) ;
  • 이갑석 (중앙대학교 의과대학 피부과학교실) ;
  • 서성준 (중앙대학교 의과대학 피부과학교실) ;
  • 조선진 (가톨릭대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 임현우 (가톨릭대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 김철민 (가톨릭대학교 의과대학 가정의학교실) ;
  • 김규한 (서울대학교 의과대학 피부과학교실) ;
  • 김도원 (경북대학교 의과대학 피부과학교실) ;
  • 김문범 (부산대학교 의과대학 피부과학교실) ;
  • 김진우 (가톨릭대학교 의과대학 피부과학교실) ;
  • 노영석 (한양대학교 의과대학 피부과학교실) ;
  • 박영립 (순천향대학교 의과대학 피부과학교실) ;
  • 박천욱 (한림대학교 의과대학 피부과학교실) ;
  • 이승철 (전남대학교 의과대학 피부과학교실) ;
  • 조상현 (가톨릭대학교 의과대학 피부과학교실)
  • Published : 2012.03.31
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Abstract

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease with genetic and environmental backgrounds. While the prevalence of AD is increasing, many patients lack accurate information and understanding about AD. Objective: This study was performed to investigate the understanding of AD among Korean AD patients. Methods: We developed a survey instrument to assess patient understanding of AD. Surveys were conducted over a 6-month period (from May 2010 to October 2010) among 415 patients with AD who visited 10 dermatology clinics at a university teaching hospital affiliated with the Korean Atopic Dermatitis Association. Results: We identified points of understanding in Korean AD patients, such as knowledge and attitudes about AD, awareness of AD treatment, reliability of health care providers and information sources, and acting with AD treatment. As the results of this survey, it was confirmed that the patients' understanding of the cause and prognosis of AD was relatively inadequate, and it could be seen that the perception of the negative attitude toward the medical treatment of AD and inconveniences caused by AD was high. However, the results of the survey on the perception about the medical treatment methods of AD showed that they perceived medical doctors' treatment and prescriptions to have the best curative value, and as the criteria for choosing the treatment methods for AD, they chose the curative value rather than safety and cost. With regard to the information source for AD, they evaluated the treatment postscript on the internet sites and reliability of news media more highly than other information sources, and they responded that the main channel through which they obtain information related to AD was the medical doctors' explanations. Conclusion: We conducted the first systematic questionnaire survey to assess the understanding of AD among Korean AD patients. The results of this survey indicate that in the education and promotion on AD patients, additional education with regard to the cause and prognosis of AD is needed, and it is considered that efforts should be made to reduce the negative perception of AD through smooth communication with the medical team. In education and promotion related to AD, treatment postscripts on news media and the internet sites should also be addressed. Ultimately, the patients' self-discipline capabilities should be reinforced through proper education and development of programs related to AD.

Keywords

References

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