Atopic eczema: its impact on the family and financial cost |
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Authors: | J Su A Kemp G Varigos T Nolan |
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Institution: | Department of Dermatology, Royal Children''s Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. |
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Abstract: | Accepted 12 September 1996
OBJECTIVE—To evaluate the impact of childhood
atopic eczema on families and assess the personal financial cost of its management. DESIGN—Cross sectional survey. SETTING—Paediatric dermatology and paediatric
diabetology outpatient clinics. PATIENTS—Parents of 48 randomly selected children
with atopic eczema and 46 with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES—The impact on family score,
the reported cost of relevant medical treatments, medical
consultations, relevant hospitalisation, and income loss. RESULTS—Families of children with moderate or
severe atopic eczema had a significantly higher impact on family score
than families of diabetic children. A conservative estimate of the
annual personal financial cost of managing mild, moderate, and severe
eczema was Aus$330, 818, and 1255, respectively. The financial cost to
the community for the management of atopic eczema in the study groups was greater. The personal financial cost of managing eczema was greater
than for asthma. CONCLUSION—Childhood atopic eczema has a profound
impact on the social, personal, emotional, and financial perspectives
of families.
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