ECHO project in atopic dermatitis in Argentina: An innovative strategy to reach underserved areas with up to date knowledge, first year of experience.

BACKGROUND: The ECHO® (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) project is a model of distance medical education developed in the United States to support health professionals in the management of patients with complex diseases. Since 2019, it has been implemented in atopic dermatitis (AD) in Argentina. The program consists of the periodic presentation of clinical cases by videoconference, virtual classes, and a permanently available open chat between professionals in charge of patients with AD and a group of experts. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of the ECHO Project AD on the medical knowledge and medical skills of Argentinian health professionals when treating patients with AD. METHODS: A survey was carried out among the participants in order to evaluate the impact of the program on the care of patients with AD. RESULTS: ECHO Project AD revealed a significant improvement in the management of patients with AD. The program contributed to the interpretation and use of severity scores, use of phototherapy, and management and prescription of both classic and innovative topical and systemic treatments. STUDY LIMITATIONS: The reduced number of participants and the short period of time. The answers of the survey may be biased by the enthusiasm of the participants. CONCLUSIONS: The ECHO project is an educational tool that enhances the medical skills of doctors and institutions, in which a climate of a partnership comes first and the participants look forward to learning from experiences, successes, and mistakes from one another, producing a scientific hub in constant evolution.

ECHO project in atopic dermatitis in Argentina: An innovative strategy to reach underserved areas with up to date knowledge, first year of experience

Abstract Background: The ECHO® (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) project is a model of distance medical education developed in the United States to support health professionals in the management of patients with complex diseases. Since 2019, it has been implemented in atopic dermatitis (AD) in Argentina. The program consists of the periodic presentation of clinical cases by videoconference, virtual classes, and a permanently available open chat between professionals in charge of patients with AD and a group of experts. Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of the ECHO Project AD on the medical knowledge and medical skills of Argentinian health professionals when treating patients with AD. Methods: A survey was carried out among the participants in order to evaluate the impact of the program on the care of patients with AD. Results: ECHO Project AD revealed a significant improvement in the management of patients with AD. The program contributed to the interpretation and use of severity scores, use of phototherapy, and management and prescription of both classic and innovative topical and systemic treatments. Study limitations: The reduced number of participants and the short period of time. The answers of the survey may be biased by the enthusiasm of the participants. Conclusions: The ECHO project is an educational tool that enhances the medical skills of doctors and institutions, in which a climate of a partnership comes first and the participants look forward to learning from experiences, successes, and mistakes from one another, producing a scientific hub in constant evolution.

Real world prescription trends of methotrexate for psoriasis in Argentina: results of a national survey.

OBJECTIVE: To describe dermatologists' methotrexate (MTX) prescription trends for the treatment of psoriasis, and to identify variables associated with suboptimal MTX use. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of dermatologists from Argentina who completed a pre-designed survey focussed on MTX prescription characteristics. A multiple logistic regression model was used to identify variables independently associated with suboptimal MTX use (when less than 12 weeks and less than 15 mg/week were administrated in patients with monotherapy before discontinuing or adding a second drug). RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-one dermatologists participated in the study. Median time of practice in dermatology: 10 (IQR 3-15) years. MTX initial dose: 2.5-7.5, 10-15 and 20-30 mg/week in 52%, 41% and 7% of the participants, respectively. Suboptimal MTX use was observed in 76% of the participants. Thirty per cent of the participants responded that they considered MTX to be an ineffective drug. The only variable that was independently associated with suboptimal MTX use was the prescriber's personal consideration of MTX to be an ineffective drug (OR 2.29; 95%CI 1.05-5.00). CONCLUSION: A wide heterogeneity in the prescribing profile of MTX for the treatment of psoriasis was observed among Argentinean dermatologists. Suboptimal MTX use was identified in the majority of the prescribers.