Improving Quality of Care in Atopic Dermatitis
Living with atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory skin disease, can have a profound impact on a person’s overall quality of life, and on those caring for them. The physical symptoms of moderate-to-severe AD, which can include intense itch, skin dryness, cracking, crusting and oozing, can be difficult to manage.1 People living with this complex disease face uncertainty every day and may experience bullying and social isolation.2
While innovation in treatment is paramount, patients need high-quality, comprehensive care to manage all aspects of living with AD and have the best possible outcomes.
To help support improvements in quality of care for AD patients around the world, Sanofi and Regeneron commissioned and funded an independent report from KPMG that aims to explore, document, and share best practices in patient care for AD and its associated comorbidities globally, enabling clinics to identify ways to optimize the care they provide. The Improving Quality of Care in Atopic Dermatitis Report was based on a comprehensive examination of 32 centers that deliver AD care around the world, including hospitals and specialists’ offices. It identifies gaps in awareness and presentation, diagnosis and referral, treatment and management, and follow-up.
he Quality of Care in AD report has six key goals:3
- Drive improvements in patient quality of care through the development of AD-specific interventions;
- Facilitate greater collaboration between dermatologists, other specialists, and other healthcare professionals;
- Support centers globally in their pursuit of delivering standardized, high-quality care;
- Empower patients through the promotion of active patient participation in managing their disease;
- Establish a large, engaged network of AD experts who are passionate about raising the standard of AD care;
- Raise awareness of the current challenges faced in the treatment and management of AD.
One gap the Quality of Care initiative aims to address is a lack of psychosocial support for people living with AD, which has been associated with a number of mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety.4 Recommended interventions to provide better care for patients in this space include conducting an assessment of AD on a patient’s psychosocial wellbeing, providing access to other psychosocial professionals and peer-to-peer support, as well as providing social support with challenges such as housing, employment, finances, and access to treatment.3
To learn more about the Quality of Care initiative and the report’s findings, visit the website: http://atopicdermatitiscare.kpmg.co.uk
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Reference
- Mount Sinai. Patient Care Atopic Dermatitis. Available at: https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/diseases-conditions/atopic-dermatitis. Accessed October 2020
- T. Zuberbier, et al., Patient perspectives on the management of atopic dermatitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006;118(1):226-232.
- KPMG: Improving Quality of Care in Atopic Dermatitis, 2020
- Slattery MJ, et al. Depression, anxiety, and dermatologic quality of life in adolescents with atopic dermatitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011;128(3):668–671. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2011.05.003