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Digital skin consultations and health apps can be incorporated as a supplementary tool alongside in-person check-ups, enhancing patient engagement and offering continuous support for managing chronic dermatological conditions.
As digital health solutions gain momentum, a novel study emphasized how smartphone apps are revolutionizing the management of chronic hand and foot eczema. When combined with educational programs, digital health apps that track symptoms and provide ongoing support can significantly improve clinical outcomes, enhancing both physical health and mental well-being for patients.
Eczema causes persistent itching, pain, and blisters on the skin that can interfere with daily tasks and severely impact a patient's quality of life. The study by Aimee Bruch et al. assessed the effect of a smartphone app + educational training on both clinical outcomes and mental health over 60 weeks in a total of 87 patients. They were split into two groups: one with educational training along with access to a mobile app, and the other with only in-person visits. The app allowed patients to upload skin images, report symptoms, track mood, and communicate directly with dermatologists.
Throughout the study, all participants showed improvement in the Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI), but those in the combo group exhibited more significant progress. The data revealed a striking reduction in disease severity among app users, with a greater improvement seen in those who used the app with moderate frequency. In particular, patients who engaged with the app less than 20% of the time demonstrated substantial improvements in both the HECSI and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), a measure of the impact of skin conditions on quality of life.
Even moderate use of the app led to meaningful benefits in managing eczema symptoms and improving overall well-being. Also, the app's image-based HECSI scores closely matched in-person assessments, demonstrating its reliability in tracking disease severity. This study underscores the overwhelming influence of teledermatology and digital health apps in dermatological care, as concluded.
Journal of Medical Internet Research
Improving Outcomes and Quality of Life for Patients With Hand and Foot Eczema: Randomized Study of a Patient-Centered Monitoring App
Aimee Bruch et al.
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