Video-Based Education with Storytelling Reduces Parents’ Fear of Topical Corticosteroid Use in Children with Atopic Dermatitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial (The EduDerm Study Part II)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To investigate the efficacy of educational videos using storytelling to reduce parents’ fear of topical corticosteroid (TCS) use in children affected by atopic dermatitis (AD). METHODS Children aged 0 to 5 years who had AD were included. The primary outcome measures were parental fear of TCSs, as determined by Topical Corticosteroid Phobia score, and quality of life according to the Family Dermatology Life Quality Index. Disease severity, assessed by the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis tool, served as a secondary outcome measure. Assessments were performed at baseline (T1), 1 to 4 weeks later (T2), and at 3-month follow-up (T3). The intervention group was exposed to the videos between baseline and T2. RESULTS Forty patients were recruited: 21 in the intervention group and 19 in the control group. A statistically significant decrease in parental TCS fear was found in the intervention group at T2 after video education as compared with the control group (P < .0001); this was maintained at T3 (P = .001). The groups did not significantly differ in FDLQI or SCORAD scores at any point. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that video education based on the method of storytelling is effective in reducing TCS fear. Although the education did not impact disease severity or quality of life, effectively reducing TCS fear remains an important aspect for AD management.