iii. Abstract and keywords
Background: Atopic Dermatitis (AD) affects up to 20% of children
and significantly negatively impacts their and their caregiver’s quality
of life (QoL). Research shows that caregivers with lower QoL may
struggle to manage their child’s AD effectively, and modifiable factors
that affect their ability include illness perceptions and self-efficacy
(SE). The study aimed to investigate the relationship between AD
severity, caregiver illness perceptions, QoL and SE in the management of
a child’s AD.
Methods: 103 caregivers of children with atopic dermatitis
completed an online survey consisting of the Patient Oriented Eczema
Measure, Dermatitis Family Impact Questionnaire, Parental Self-Efficacy
with Eczema Care Index, and Illness Perception Questionnaire - Revised.
Results: Correlation analyses showed significant relationships
between a child’s AD severity and caregiver illness perceptions, SE and
QoL. Certain illness perceptions (consequences and emotional
representations) had a greater impact on QoL than AD severity.
Hierarchical regression analysis showed that AD severity, illness
perceptions and SE predicted 72% of the variance in caregiver QoL. SE
mediated the relationship between consequences, illness coherence,
personal control, treatment control, timeline acute/chronic, identity
and QoL.
Conclusion: The findings support the role of illness perceptions
and SE in explaining QoL in caregivers of children with AD.
Interventions aimed at caregivers to treat AD in children should target
both SE and illness perceptions, particularly emotional representations.
Keywords: Atopic Dermatitis; Caregiver; Self Efficacy; Illness
Beliefs; Quality of Life; Mediating; Children