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Table 1 Changes in emollient use and measures of eczema severity

From: Improved emollient use reduces atopic eczema symptoms and is cost neutral in infants: before-and-after evaluation of a multifaceted educational support programme

 

Baseline1

  

1-4 weeks

  

5-8 weeks

  

9-12 weeks

  

Mean change2

   
 

Mean

(SD)

N

Mean

(SD)

N

Mean

(SD)

N

Mean

(SD)

N

Mean

95% CI3

N

p3

Emollient Use (g/wk) 4

 Daily diary

-

  

165.2

(96.4)

135

168.4

(113.2)

135

167.8

(109.5)

135

87.6

(81.9 to 119.5)

132

0.001

 Time to use

79.2

(79.2)

132

173.5

(114.3)

122

195.2

(112.1)

128

197.4

(106.5)

129

110.0

(94.6 to 131.3)

115

0.001

Severity Scores

 POEM5

11.34

(6.27)

135

7.52

(5.71)

135

5.50

(5.05)

135

4.85

(5.04)

135

-5.38

(-6.41 to -4.36)

135

0.001

 PEST6

2.26

(0.81)

135

1.82

(0.73)

135

1.59

(0.78)

135

1.53

(0.68)

135

-0.61

(-0.75 to -0.47)

135

0.001

Individual Scores

 Dryness [A] 7

5.66

(1.97)

135

4.09

(2.38)

135

3.22

(2.45)

135

2.86

(2.39)

135

-2.28

(-2.67 to -1.90)

135

0.001

 Redness [B] 7

4.12

(2.44)

135

2.74

(2.42)

135

1.95

(2.18)

135

1.82

(2.13)

135

-1.95

(-2.37 to -1.53)

135

0.001

 Itchiness [C] 7

4.73

(2.54)

135

3.38

(2.56)

135

2.63

(2.67)

135

2.37

(2.53)

135

-1.94

(-2.36 to -1.52)

135

0.001

 [A] + [B] + [C]

14.51

(5.64)

135

10.21

(6.35)

135

7.79

(6.24)

135

7.04

(6.24)

135

-6.17

(-7.17 to -5.20)

135

0.001

 Sleep disturbance 7

2.36

(2.44)

135

1.49

(2.12)

135

0.98

(1.62)

135

0.80

(1.59)

135

-1.27

(-1.68 to -0.85)

135

0.001

 Bleeding7

1.34

(1.99)

135

0.68

(1.35)

135

0.42

(1.05)

135

0.33

(1.03)

135

-0.86

(-1.18 to -0.56)

135

0.001

 Weeping or oozing7

0.86

(1.74)

135

0.40

(1.15)

135

0.24

(0.87)

135

0.18

(0.76)

135

-0.59

(-0.87 to -0.35)

135

0.001

 Cracking7

2.44

(2.50)

135

1.41

(1.90)

135

1.02

(1.79)

135

0.89

(1.81)

135

-1.34

(-1.77 to -0.97)

135

0.001

 Flaking7

2.26

(2.63)

135

1.37

(1.96)

135

0.80

(1.47)

135

0.76

(1.57)

135

-1.28

(-1.69 to -0.85)

135

0.001

 Roughness7

5.49

(2.07)

135

4.25

(2.40)

135

3.32

(2.54)

135

3.56

(2.10)

135

-1.93

(-2.33 to -1.55)

135

0.001

 Severity7

4.65

(5.16)

135

2.49

(3.86)

135

1.68

(3.17)

135

1.39

(3.02)

135

-2.80

(-3.63 to -2.03)

135

0.001

Other

 Parental Control8

3.30

(0.99)

135

4.43

(0.66)

134

4.61

(0.57)

135

4.81

(0.41)

135

1.32

(1.16 to 1.48)

134

0.001

 GP Visits1

1.90

(2.13)

135

0.46

(0.54)

135

0.25

(0.44)

135

0.13

(0.36)

135

-1.06

(-1.49 to -0.70)

135

0.002

 Steroid Prescribed (%)9

51/135

(37.8%)

73/135

(54.1%)

82/135

(60.7%)

82/135

(60.7)%

20.8%

(8.9% to 32.1%)

135

0.001

  1. 1 Weeks -2 to 0, except GP visits which included the previous 12 weeks to week 0.
  2. 2 The mean change is the average of the programme period scores minus the baseline period score in subjects with complete data.
  3. 3 Estimated by bootstrapping with 1,000 replications.
  4. 4 Emollient use was estimated using two methods: the time to use a reported weight of emollient (500 g); and, a daily diary record of counts of pumps of emollient used by weight; – the latter method was not available for the baseline period.
  5. 5 POEM score from 0 to 28, including seven signs of eczema at four levels of frequency in the past week at the end of each period.
  6. 6 PEST score, the child’s unhappiness with eczema: score 1 (not at all) to 5 (very unhappy), daily diary score averaged over each period.
  7. 7 Number of days in the previous week has the child had this sign of eczema: score 0 to 7 days, at the end of each period.
  8. 8 Parental confidence in managing the child’s eczema: score 1 (not being in control) to 5 (being totally in control), at the end of each period.
  9. 9 Proportion of children prescribed topical corticosteroids during each period.
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BMC Dermatology

ISSN: 1471-5945

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