Abstract: Background: Atopic dermatitis is the most common chronic inflammatory skin disease in children. Therefore, it has an impact on patients’ quality of life (QoL). Families with children having AD are vulnerable to have diversity of physical as well as psychological difficulties, including experiencing extreme fatigue, stress, frustration, and low QoL, particularly when there is slow or no improvement in the condition.
Aims/Objectives: We aimed to assess the quality of life (QOL) of parents having children with AD and to determine its predictors.
Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional survey study among families with children suffering from AD. Data was collected by the validated Arabic version of the dermatitis family impact (DFI) questionnaire [19]. The study has been conducted after taking the institutional review board approval at PSMMC. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, data was collected online by sending an invitation to the parents explaining the aims and objectives of the research through WhatsApp, SMS messages, and social media.
Results: A total of 93 parents having a child with atopic dermatitis (only one parent per family) participated in the current study, with a mean (±SD) age of 29.49 (±5.02). The vast majority (97.8%) of the respondents reported that mothers are the ones who take care of the AD child. The mean age of the children was 4.85 (±2.71). The overall mean (±SD) score of the DFI was 16.97(±7.55). The highest impact of having a child with atopic dermatitis was on the expenditures with a mean (±SD) score of 1.91 (±0.84) out of 3. On the other hand, the lowest effect was on the family leisure activities, with a mean score of 1.55 (±0.83). The level of effect of atopic dermatitis on the quality of life of parents having children with atopic dermatitis is severe in 23.66%, moderate in 43.01% of the respondents, and low in 27.96%. The DFI total score differed significantly only by participants' age and marital status.
Conclusion: Atopic dermatitis (AD) had a moderate impact on the QOL of parents whose children had AD. Marital status and both parents and child age were the factors that significantly correlated with the parents' QoL.
