Open Access, Peer-reviewed
pISSN 2288-0402
eISSN 2288-0410
    Allergy Asthma Respir Dis. 2013 Sep;1(3):257-265. Korean.
    Published online Sep 30, 2013.
    https://doi.org/10.4168/aard.2013.1.3.257
    © 2013 The Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease; The Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology
    Original Article

    Status of clinical practice on diagnosis and management of atopic dermatitis in Korea: a questionnaire survey of physicians

    Yang Park
      • Department of Pediatrics, Wonkwang University Sanbon Hospital, Wonkwang University College of Medicine, Gunpo, Korea.
    • Correspondence to: Yang Park. Department of Pediatrics, Wonkwang University Sanbon Hospital, Wonkwang University College of Medicine, 327 Sanbon-ro, Gunpo 435-040, Korea. Tel: +82-31-390-2989, Fax: +82-031-390-2989, Email: pyallergy@gmail.com
    Received April 17, 2013; Revised August 01, 2013; Accepted August 05, 2013.

    This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/).

    Abstract

    Purpose

    The prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) has been increasing in many developed countries including Korea. There has been little information on the status of real clinical practice for atopic dermatitis by physicians in Korea.

    Methods

    This study investigated the current status of clinical practice on allergy test and treatment of AD in Korea by analyzing a questionnaire survey of 155 physicians who attended the educational program for practical management of AD by the Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The questionnaire was mainly composed of 20 items regarding diagnosis, treatment of AD.

    Results

    Among the 155 physicians who completed the questionnaire survey, most of subjects (90%) agreed that allergy test was necessary, but only 68% performed allergy test in their practice for AD. The barriers to allergy testing were lack of test personnel or facilities (61%), disbelief on the clinical importance of allergy test in the treatment (41%), and difficulty in explanation about the test results to patients (16%). Problems interfering the active treatment of patients with AD were the difficulty in acquiring a sufficient time for education and explanation about treatment (54%), incomplete clinical efficacy of current medication and concern on the side effects (41%), and the difficulty in establishing a good doctor-patient relationship (40%).

    Conclusion

    There are difficulties of physicians in the active management of AD in Korea. To solve current difficulties, changes in medical system to encourage the physicians' effort for active clinical practice for patients with AD and education for physicians are needed.

    Keywords
    Atopic dermatitis; Questionnaire survey; Physician

    Figures

    Fig. 1
    The purpose of performing allergy tests in patients with atopic dermatitis.

    Fig. 2
    Reasons for not performing allergy tests in patients with atopic dermatitis.

    Fig. 3
    Current treatment methods applied in patients with mild atopic dermatitis.

    Fig. 4
    Current treatment methods applied in patients with severe atopic dermatitis.

    Fig. 5
    Reasons for not performing active treatment for patients with atopic dermatitis. A, difficulty in acquiring a sufficient time for education and explanation about treatment; B, Incomplete clinical efficacy of current medication and concern on the side effects; C, Difficulty in establishing a good doctor-patient relationship; D, Only current standard drug treatment in not effective enough; E, Despite active therapy, the treatment of income less.

    Tables

    Table 1
    Demographic characteristics of participants on the questionnaire survey (n=155)

    Table 2
    The difference between the allergy test necessity recognition and actual test performance in primary medical institution and secondary, tertiary medical institution

    Table 3
    Reasons for currents difficulties in practicing active treatment for atopic dermatitis raised by practical physicians

    Table 4
    Author's suggestions to solve the problem for atopic dermatitis

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    MeSH Terms
    Asthma
    Dermatitis, Atopic
    Developed Countries
    Humans
    Hypersensitivity
    Korea
    Prevalence
    Surveys and Questionnaires
    Metrics
    Share
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    Tables
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