Emotional, Social, and Physical Effect of Atopic Eczema of Parent Have Children with Atopic Eczema: A Descriptive Study
Year: 2024; Volume: 4; Issue: 2; Page No: 11 – 15
Article Type: Original Article
Authors: Asmaa Hadi Oubeed*1
, Wisam Mashaan Muttaleb2
https://doi.org/10.55349/ijmsnr.2024421115
Affiliations:
*1Assistant Professor, Department of Maternal and Neonate Nursing, College of Nursing, University of Baghdad, Iraq.
2Instructor PhD., Department of Maternal and Neonate Nursing, College of Nursing, University of Baghdad, Iraq. Email ID: wesamm@conursing.uobaghdad.edu.iq
Corresponding Author:
Ms. Wisam Mashaan Muttaleb,
Instructor PhD,
Department of Maternal and Neonate Nursing,
College of Nursing,
University of Baghdad,
Iraq.
Email ID: wesamm@conursing.uobaghdad.edu.iq
| How to cite this article: Qubeed AH, Muttaleb WM. Emotional, Social, and Physical Effect of Atopic Eczema of Parent Have Children with Atopic Eczema: A Descriptive Study. Int J Med Sci and Nurs Res 2024;4(2):11 – 15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55349/ijmsnr.2024421115 |
Article Summary: Submitted: 06-April-2024 Revised: 10-May-2024 Accepted: 18-May-2024 Published: 30-June-2024
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is a persistent and inflammatory skin condition that typically starts in early childhood. It can potentially have adverse effects on various aspects of the patient’s family life. The main objective was to determine the impact of it on the physical, social, and emotional status of the parents.
Materials and Methods: A descriptive study was conducted in the Rusafa/Al-Karkh Health Department in Baghdad from January 2nd to March 2nd 2024, involving 150 participants by non-probability purposive sampling. Data was gathered by a self-administered questionnaire comprising two components. Part I: Socio-demographic Characteristics Part-II Family Reported Outcome Measure (FROM 16).
Results: In the present study, the highest percentage of participants who graduated with a bachelor degree were mothers 39.3% and fathers 35.3%. Atopic eczema among children has a moderate effect on the emotional status of parents, as seen by the mean scores among the items angry 1.02, sad 1.25, frustrated 1.16, and feeling worried 1.35. The personal and social life status of parents shows a moderate effect, as seen with mean scores in most items find time 1.03, work affected 0.70, sleep affected 1.26 while sex affected shows a low effect of 0.55.
Conclusion: From this study, we have concluded that there is a moderate effect of atopic eczema among children on their parents. Emotional, social, and physical status. We recommended that healthcare practitioners ought to support children, parents, or caregivers in recognizing instances of atopic eczema. They should also provide guidance and instructions to parents on how to preserve skin health and stick to the guidelines the dermatologist.
Key Words: Atopic Eczema, physical effect, quality of life
Full Text
Introduction
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and inflammatory skin disorder that usually begins during early childhood. Approximately 15% of young individuals worldwide are thought to potentially have AD. [1] Quality of life (QoL) refers to an individual’s overall assessment of how their health, well-being, and functioning in physical, psychological, and social aspects of life are affected by disease and treatment. [2, 3] The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined quality of life (QoL) as the capacity of individuals to subjectively assess their standing in life within the cultural context and value systems in which individuals reside, which should align with their objectives, anticipations, criteria, and worries. [4] Dermatological conditions Adverse perception of several dimensions of quality of life: general well-being, physical, emotional, and social abilities. [5] Moreover, whether the patient is a child, teenager or adult, AD may have a secondary negative impact on the physical, emotional, social, and economic elements of the patient’s family life. Since AD is probably a lifelong illness, its negative impact on the lives of patients and their families occurs throughout the lifespan. Previous studies on AD have focused mainly on children. [6] The disorder has a substantial influence on the patients’ quality of life (QoL). [7] AD significantly influences the quality of life for parents as well. Recently, there has been an increase in the attention given to the quality of life of patients, namely those in the field of dermatology. [8] It indicates that the impact of juvenile AD on quality of life is similar to or greater than that of most chronic childhood disorders. [6]
Materials and Methods
Study Design, Study Setting and Sample Size: Descriptive study was conducted at Al Rusafa Health Department/Allergy Specialist Center, Al-Karkh Health Department/Al-Zahra Center for Allergy and Asthma in Baghdad, with 150 participants.
Data Collection Procedure: All participants were provided with information regarding the procedures and subsequently provided their consent to participate. The data was gathered using a self-reported questionnaire and a face-to-face interview, typically taking approximately 10-15 to complete.
Study Tool: The study questionnaire consisted of two parts. Part-I is the demographic characteristics; Part-II is the Family-Reported Outcome Measure (FROM 16).
Data Management: The data of the present study were analyzed and interpreted through the use of the application of Statistical Package for Social Sciences, ie., SPSS version 26.0.
Statistical Analysis: The data expressed was analyzed using frequency and percentage.
Ethical Clearance and Statement: Approval from an ethics committee has been acquired by the Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Baghdad, Iraq, on November 22, 2023, and the higher authority of the Al Rusafa/Al-Karkh health directorate in Baghdad. Participants in this study were selected according to their acceptance to participate in this study. Assurances have been made about the preservation of anonymity and privacy. Assurances have been made about the preservation of anonymity and privacy.
Results
Out of 150 participants, 35.3% of fathers and 39.3% of mothers were graduated with bachelor degree as the highest percentage seen with level of education. the majority of children’ parents were married with normal marital status (98.7%) and only 1.3% of them were widowed as shown in Table – 1.
Table–1 Distribution of children according to their parents’ level of education based on children’ report and according to their parents’ marital status (N=150)
| Level of education | Father | |
| f | % | |
| Doesn’t read & write | 5 | 3.3 |
| Read & write | 14 | 9.3 |
| Primary school | 19 | 12.7 |
| Intermediate school | 25 | 16.7 |
| Secondary school | 12 | 8 |
| Diploma | 11 | 7.3 |
| Bachelor | 53 | 35.3 |
| Master | 4 | 2.7 |
| Doctorate | 7 | 4.7 |
| Level of education | Mother | |
| f | % | |
| Doesn’t read & write | 5 | 3.3 |
| Read & write | 7 | 4.7 |
| Primary school | 29 | 19.3 |
| Intermediate school | 19 | 12.7 |
| Secondary school | 12 | 8 |
| Diploma | 9 | 6 |
| Bachelor | 59 | 39.3 |
| Master | 6 | 4 |
| Doctorate | 4 | 2.7 |
| Marital Status | f | % |
| Married (Normal) | 148 | 98.7 |
| Divorced | 0 | 0 |
| Widowed/ widower | 2 | 1.3 |
| Separated | 0 | 0 |
Table–2: Effect of Atopic Eczema among Children on Parents’ Emotional Status (N=150)
| Sl. No | Emotional status | Scale | f (%) | M |
| 1 | I feel worried | Not at all | 15(10) | 1.35
H |
| A little | 67(44.7) | |||
| A lot | 68(45.3) | |||
| 2 | I feel angry | Not at all | 43(28.7) | 1.02
M |
| A little | 61(40.7) | |||
| A lot | 46(30.7) | |||
| 3 | I feel sad | Not at all | 26(17.3) | 1.25
M |
| A little | 61(40.7) | |||
| A lot | 63(42) | |||
| 4 | I feel frustrated | Not at all | 30(20) | 1.16
M |
| A little | 66(44) | |||
| A lot | 54(36) | |||
| 5 | It is difficult for
me to talk to someone about what is in danger for me |
Not at all | 58(38.7) | 0.76
M |
| A little | 70(46.7) | |||
| A lot | 22(14.6) | |||
| 6 | It is difficult to
take care of this member of my family |
Not at all | 62(41.3) | 0.72
M |
| A little | 68(45.3) | |||
| A lot | 20(13.4) |
H – High; M – Moderate
Atopic Eczema among children has moderate effect on emotional status of parents as seen with mean scores among all items except (feeling worry) that show high effect as shown in Table – 2.
Table – 3: Effect of Atopic Eczema among Children on Parents’ Personal and Social Status (N=150)
| Sl. No. | Personal and social status | Scale | f (%) | M | Assess |
| 1 | It is hard to find time for myself | Not at all | 30(20) | 1.03 | Moderate |
| A little | 85(56.7) | ||||
| A lot | 35(23.3) | ||||
| 2 | My every day travel is affected | Not at all | 44(29.3) | 0.93 | Moderate |
| A little | 72(48) | ||||
| A lot | 34(22.7) | ||||
| 3 | My eating habits are affected | Not at all | 50(33.3) | 0.86 | Moderate |
| A little | 71(47.3) | ||||
| A lot | 29(19.3) | ||||
| 4 | My family activities are affected | Not at all | 45(30) | 0.91 | Moderate |
| A little | 73(48.7) | ||||
| A lot | 32(21.3) | ||||
| 5 | I experience problems with going on holiday | Not at all | 40(26.7) | 1.03 | Moderate |
| A little | 66(44) | ||||
| A lot | 44(29.3) | ||||
| 6 | My sex life is affected | Not at all | 75(50) | 0.55 | Low |
| A little | 68(45.3) | ||||
| A lot | 7(4.7) | ||||
| 7 | My work or study is affected | Not at all | 60(40) | 0.70 | Moderate |
| A little | 75(50) | ||||
| A lot | 15(10) | ||||
| 8 | My relationships with other family members are affected | Not at all | 84(56) | 0.49 | Low |
| A little | 58(38.7) | ||||
| A lot | 8(5.3) | ||||
| 9 | My family expenses are increased | Not at all | 15(10) | 1.29 | Moderate |
| A little | 76(50.7) | ||||
| A lot | 59(39.3) | ||||
| 10 | My sleep is affected | Not at all | 20(13.3) | 1.26 | Moderate |
| A little | 71(47.3) | ||||
| A lot | 59(39.4) |
f: Frequency, %: Percentage, M: Mean
Low= 0 – 0.66, Moderate= 0.67 – 1.33, High= 1.34 – 2
Atopic eczema among children has moderate effect on parents’ personal life and social life status as seen with moderate mean scores among all items except item (My sex life is affected) and (My relationships with other family members are affected) that show low effect as shown in Table – 3.
Discussion
The results of our study indicate that fathers and mothers have graduated with bachelor degrees, with the highest percentage seen with level of education. The findings of this study, in agreement with the previous study, found that over fifty percent of parents have attained tertiary or advanced education. [9] The education level most frequently stated by parents is secondary education. [10] The majority of children’s parents are married with normal marital status. The findings of this study were supported by a study done in the medical city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which found that of the individuals responsible for the child’s care, over fifty percent were married. [11]
Many research investigations have repeatedly demonstrated that atopic eczema in children may significantly impact the emotional well-being of parents. This study shows that atopic eczema among children has a moderate effect on parents’ emotional status. These findings of this study were supported by the previous study, which showed that the correlation between the children’s dermatology life quality (CDLQI) and the dermatitis family impact (DFI) is statistically significant. This correlation indicates that there is a modest effect on the patient’s quality of life and a moderate effect on the guardian’s quality of life when they occur simultaneously. [12] There is an elevated burden of atopic dermatitis because parents who have experienced it before are more likely to be worried about their child’s sickness. [13]
Atopic dermatitis has a significant effect on the personal and social lives of parents with children affected by the condition, and AD among children has a moderate effect on parents’ personal lives and social life status. The majority of parents of children with atopic dermatitis experienced a modest to moderate effect on their quality of life due to the disease. [14] Several elements are thought to moderate the impact of psychological stressors, including environmental influences such as social support and individual characteristics. [15, 16] This result is in disagreement with previous studies and shows that research has demonstrated that a higher level of disease severity is linked to a more significant decline in QoL for both mothers and fathers. The effects of the children’s AD on their parents’ social lives, leisure time, and daily expenditure were comparable. [17,18] Mothers of children with hospital-managed AD had an elevated likelihood of obtaining prescriptions for drugs targeting psychological conditions such as depression and anxiety, pain, and sleep issues, as well as seeking consultation with a psychologist. However, most of these relationships were insignificant after accounting for all relevant factors. [19,20] A previous study shows that there was a notable influence on the domains pertaining to parents’ weariness and the effect on other family members’ sleep. [21]
The elements related to family leisure activities, treatment issues, time spent shopping, and connections between family members received the lowest scores. [22] AD has a significant impact on both the mental and social aspects of well-being, as well as the overall quality of life. This encompasses the occurrence of daily effects such as pruritus, which can interfere with sleep and impede everyday tasks or routines. [23, 24] A study conducted in the United States found
that patients with AD exhibited significant impairments in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) when compared to the overall US population. These deficiencies were particularly apparent in the areas of energy, interpersonal relationships, and psychological well-being. [25, 26] A negative dermatological condition was strongly correlated with a lower quality of life for the child and a notable decline in the quality of life for the family. This demonstrates how atopic dermatitis has a tendency to impact the entire family unit rather than just the individual patient. [27]
Conclusion
From this study, we have concluded that atopic dermatitis among children has a moderate effect on parents’ emotional, personal, and social status. Healthcare practitioners ought to support children, parents, or caregivers in recognizing instances of atopic eczema. They should also provide guidance and instructions to parents on how to preserve skin health and stick to the guidelines the dermatologist.
Source of funding: Self-funding
Conflict of Interest: Nothing to declared
Authors’ Contributions:
AHO, WMM: Authors contributed to the conceptualization; AHO, WMM: write the article and checking all the concepts of the manuscript; All authors are read, checked and approved the final manuscript.
Here, AHO: Asmaa Hadi Oubeed, and WMM: Wisam Mashaan Muttaleb
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