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Online, in-person care produced equivalent clinical outcomes for atopic dermatitis

Direct-access online medical care produced similar improvements in atopic dermatitis clinical outcomes as those found with traditional in-person care, according to study results.

April Armstrong

In a 1-year, randomized, controlled, equivalency clinical trial conducted in medically underserved areas, 156 patients with atopic dermatitis were randomly assigned on a 1:1 basis to direct-access online care or traditional in-person care for follow-up management following an initial in-person visit.

Patients in the direct-access online group captured and transmitted clinical images and medical history to dermatologists online, where the dermatologists evaluated the information and provided recommendations and education, whereas patients in the in-person group visited dermatologists in their offices. Those assigned to the office visits had six in-person visits with a dermatologist at 2-month intervals; those assigned to the direct-access group had six online visits with a dermatologist at 2-month intervals.

Baseline patient-oriented eczema measure (POEM) and investigator global assessment (IGA) scores were recorded at the initial office visits as well as at all follow-up visits.

Significant improvements in AD disease severity, as measured by POEM, were seen in both groups at 12-month follow-up, according to the researchers. At 12 months, the mean within-group difference in POEM scores from baseline was −5.1 in the direct-access group and −4.86 in the in-person group.

IGA scores also improved significantly in both groups, according to the researchers. Within both groups, IGA scores improved from a median score of 3 at baseline to a median score of 2 at 12 months. In the direct-access group, the percentage of patients who achieved an IGA score of 0 or 1 was 38.4%, whereas in the in-person group, the percentage was 43.6%.

Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.