Effects of Pain From Atopic Dermatitis: Interview and Focus Group Study With Patients and Their Families
BackgroundPain is an underappreciated symptom of atopic dermatitis that can affect the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of patients. ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to understand the effect of pain on patients with atopic dermatitis and their family members...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2021-10-01
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| Series: | JMIR Dermatology |
| Online Access: | https://derma.jmir.org/2021/2/e29826 |
| _version_ | 1797329462824534016 |
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| author | Ashley M Snyder Vanina L Taliercio Adelheid U Brandenberger Bianca E Rich Lisa B Webber Abram P Beshay Joshua E Biber Rachel Hess Jamie L W Rhoads Aaron M Secrest |
| author_facet | Ashley M Snyder Vanina L Taliercio Adelheid U Brandenberger Bianca E Rich Lisa B Webber Abram P Beshay Joshua E Biber Rachel Hess Jamie L W Rhoads Aaron M Secrest |
| author_sort | Ashley M Snyder |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundPain is an underappreciated symptom of atopic dermatitis that can affect the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of patients.
ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to understand the effect of pain on patients with atopic dermatitis and their family members and to recognize how this symptom affects HRQL.
MethodsWe conducted focus groups and interviews with patients with atopic dermatitis and their family members. Researchers independently coded the transcripts and reached a consensus on the major themes.
ResultsA total of 33 adult participants, consisting of 21 patients with atopic dermatitis (median age 47 years, range 22-77) and 12 family members (median age 50, range 22-72), attended either focus groups (23/33, 70%) or
interviews (10/33, 30%), where we assessed their experiences of pain. Four themes emerged in our study. Itchiness and pain can be intertwined: pain was often caused by or otherwise associated with itchiness and could result from open sores and excoriated skin. Characteristics of pain: pain was most often described as burning. Other descriptors included mild, persistent discomfort; stinging; and stabbing. Effects of pain: pain negatively affected various aspects of daily life, including choice of clothing, sleep, social activities, and relationships. The location of painful areas could also limit physical activity, including sex. Pain management: pain from atopic dermatitis could be managed to varying degrees with different over-the-counter and prescription treatments. Systemic agents that cleared the skin also resolved the pain associated with atopic dermatitis.
ConclusionsPain can be a significant factor in the HRQL of patients with atopic dermatitis and should be considered by clinicians when caring for patients with atopic dermatitis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T07:04:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9fd1a49ee1314291814d4b069c11fcbe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2562-0959 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T07:04:56Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Dermatology |
| spelling | doaj.art-9fd1a49ee1314291814d4b069c11fcbe2024-02-03T04:56:37ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Dermatology2562-09592021-10-0142e2982610.2196/29826Effects of Pain From Atopic Dermatitis: Interview and Focus Group Study With Patients and Their FamiliesAshley M Snyderhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1980-2092Vanina L Talierciohttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6226-3576Adelheid U Brandenbergerhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7817-9774Bianca E Richhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8519-8428Lisa B Webberhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0988-7782Abram P Beshayhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5859-0603Joshua E Biberhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3996-1063Rachel Hesshttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2545-8504Jamie L W Rhoadshttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2859-4168Aaron M Secresthttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9297-0941 BackgroundPain is an underappreciated symptom of atopic dermatitis that can affect the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of patients. ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to understand the effect of pain on patients with atopic dermatitis and their family members and to recognize how this symptom affects HRQL. MethodsWe conducted focus groups and interviews with patients with atopic dermatitis and their family members. Researchers independently coded the transcripts and reached a consensus on the major themes. ResultsA total of 33 adult participants, consisting of 21 patients with atopic dermatitis (median age 47 years, range 22-77) and 12 family members (median age 50, range 22-72), attended either focus groups (23/33, 70%) or interviews (10/33, 30%), where we assessed their experiences of pain. Four themes emerged in our study. Itchiness and pain can be intertwined: pain was often caused by or otherwise associated with itchiness and could result from open sores and excoriated skin. Characteristics of pain: pain was most often described as burning. Other descriptors included mild, persistent discomfort; stinging; and stabbing. Effects of pain: pain negatively affected various aspects of daily life, including choice of clothing, sleep, social activities, and relationships. The location of painful areas could also limit physical activity, including sex. Pain management: pain from atopic dermatitis could be managed to varying degrees with different over-the-counter and prescription treatments. Systemic agents that cleared the skin also resolved the pain associated with atopic dermatitis. ConclusionsPain can be a significant factor in the HRQL of patients with atopic dermatitis and should be considered by clinicians when caring for patients with atopic dermatitis.https://derma.jmir.org/2021/2/e29826 |
| spellingShingle | Ashley M Snyder Vanina L Taliercio Adelheid U Brandenberger Bianca E Rich Lisa B Webber Abram P Beshay Joshua E Biber Rachel Hess Jamie L W Rhoads Aaron M Secrest Effects of Pain From Atopic Dermatitis: Interview and Focus Group Study With Patients and Their Families JMIR Dermatology |
| title | Effects of Pain From Atopic Dermatitis: Interview and Focus Group Study With Patients and Their Families |
| title_full | Effects of Pain From Atopic Dermatitis: Interview and Focus Group Study With Patients and Their Families |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Pain From Atopic Dermatitis: Interview and Focus Group Study With Patients and Their Families |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Pain From Atopic Dermatitis: Interview and Focus Group Study With Patients and Their Families |
| title_short | Effects of Pain From Atopic Dermatitis: Interview and Focus Group Study With Patients and Their Families |
| title_sort | effects of pain from atopic dermatitis interview and focus group study with patients and their families |
| url | https://derma.jmir.org/2021/2/e29826 |
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