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Desonide Hydrogel for Dermatitis Effective, Results in High Patient Satisfaction: Presented at AAD

By Jill Stein

SAN FRANCISCO -- March 10, 2009 -- Use of desonide hydrogel in patients with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis resulted in significant reductions in symptom severity and high patient satisfaction, possibly enhancing treatment compliance, researchers reported here at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) 67th Annual Meeting.

Researchers, led by Donna Kerney, MD, Director of Analytics, InfoMedics, Inc., Woburn, Massachusetts, assessed patients' experiences with desonide hydrogel by evaluating questionnaires that were completed before and about 25 days after treatment initiation.

The surveys included questions about prior medication use for atopic dermatitis, assessments of symptom severity, satisfaction, intent to continue, and recommendation of desonide hydrogel to other patients.

A total of 1,025 patients completed the surveys (60% female; mean age, 35 years), with approximately two-thirds having used at least 1 prior medication for atopic dermatitis.

Results showed desonide hydrogel reduced redness by 58%, scaling/flaking by 59%, and itching severity was reduced by 60% (P < .05).

Of the patients (n = 692) who had used other medications for their condition, satisfaction with desonide hydrogel was nearly twice as high, on average, than satisfaction with their prior medications (P < .05).

Satisfaction with desonide hydrogel for all respondents averaged 7.7 to 9 on a scale of 1 (not at all satisfied) to 9 (very satisfied), with 83% of respondents rating their satisfaction between 7 and 9.

Most patients said they would continue using desonide hydrogel if necessary, and most said they would recommend the medication to other patients.

"Patient-reported impressions of treatment response provide a valuable component to objective clinical observations and can help physicians evaluate new therapies," the authors wrote in their poster presentation. "Patients in this program reported very favourable experiences after their treatment with desonide hydrogel."

The researchers added that further studies are needed to confirm that the effectiveness of desonide hydrogel plus high patient satisfaction may enhance treatment compliance.

The study was supported by SkinMedica, Inc.

[Presentation title: Patient Assessment of Desonide Hydrogel for the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Atopic Dermatitis. Abstract P1311]

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