Impacto psicosocial en adultos con dermatitis atópica: estudio cualitativo / Psychosocial Impact of Atopic Dermatitis in Adults: A Qualitative Study

ANTECEDENTES Y OBJETIVO: La dermatitis atópica afecta a la calidad de vida del paciente de muchas maneras. Por tanto, es importante analizar los efectos que la enfermedad produce en la vida del paciente al objeto de definir mejor las necesidades de atención de los pacientes adultos con dermatitis atópica. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Se realizaron entrevistas a 14 pacientes adultos con dermatitis atópica. Las entrevistas cualitativas fueron semiestructuradas apoyadas en un guion simple, lo que permitió una entrevista completa y flexible para un mayor nivel de profundidad y riqueza de datos. RESULTADOS: Se identificaron 6 esferas afectadas de la vida del paciente con dermatitis atópica: económica, laboral, personal, psicosocial, clínica y relacional. Se destaca que la dermatitis atópica tiene un gran impacto psicosocial en el paciente adulto, ya que altera las relaciones interpersonales, genera rechazo, estigmatización y aislamiento social, limita al paciente en diversas áreas y actividades de su vida cotidiana o altera el sueño, entre otros. Preocupan mucho el aspecto visible, el ciclo picor-rascamiento, la falta de concienciación y desconocimiento de la enfermedad, la ausencia de una solución definitiva entre los tratamientos y los efectos secundarios de algunos de ellos. CONCLUSIONES: La calidad de vida de los pacientes con dermatitis atópica se ve afectada negativamente y se hace necesaria una intervención profesional desde un abordaje multidisciplinar holístico que intente mitigar el impacto negativo de la enfermedad

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Atopic dermatitis affects a patient's quality of life in many ways. Analysis of the effects of this disease on the lives of adult patients is therefore important for the purpose of better defining their care needs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We interviewed 14 adult patients with atopic dermatitis in this qualitative study. The interviews were semistructured according to a simple outline to allow for completeness and flexibility and afford greater depth and richness of information. RESULTS: Atopic dermatitis affected the patients’ lives in 6 spheres of activity: economic, occupational, personal, psychosocial, clinical, and relational. A clear finding was that the disease has a considerable psychosocial effect on adult patients, altering their interpersonal relationships and leading to rejection, stigmatization, and social isolation. It limits the patient in various spheres of life and in activities of daily living, causing sleep alterations among other effects. The patients were very concerned about appearance, the itch–scratch cycle, poor understanding and lack of awareness of their disease, the absence of a definitive treatment, and the adverse effects of some treatments. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of life of adults with atopic dermatitis is negatively affected. This disease requires a professional, holistic, multidisciplinary management approach that attempts to mitigate the adverse effects

Psychosocial Impact of Atopic Dermatitis in Adults: A Qualitative Study. / Impacto psicosocial en adultos con dermatitis atópica: estudio cualitativo.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Atopic dermatitis affects a patient's quality of life in many ways. Analysis of the effects of this disease on the lives of adult patients is therefore important for the purpose of better defining their care needs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We interviewed 14 adult patients with atopic dermatitis in this qualitative study. The interviews were semistructured according to a simple outline to allow for completeness and flexibility and afford greater depth and richness of information. RESULTS: Atopic dermatitis affected the patients' lives in 6 spheres of activity: economic, occupational, personal, psychosocial, clinical, and relational. A clear finding was that the disease has a considerable psychosocial effect on adult patients, altering their interpersonal relationships and leading to rejection, stigmatization, and social isolation. It limits the patient in various spheres of life and in activities of daily living, causing sleep alterations among other effects. The patients were very concerned about appearance, the itch-scratch cycle, poor understanding and lack of awareness of their disease, the absence of a definitive treatment, and the adverse effects of some treatments. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of life of adults with atopic dermatitis is negatively affected. This disease requires a professional, holistic, multidisciplinary management approach that attempts to mitigate the adverse effects.