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Remembering childhood atopic dermatitis as an adult: factors that influence recollection

Moberg, C. ; Meding, B. ; Stenberg, B. ; Svensson, Åke LU and Lindberg, M. (2006) In British Journal of Dermatology 155(3). p.557-560
Abstract
Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is common in the population, and studies have shown that the disease is on the increase. Studies based on hospital records reflect selected populations and may miss less severe cases of AD, and the use of self-reported questionnaires has the drawback of recall bias. Objectives: To investigate some possible factors influencing recall bias when questionnaires are used to establish the prevalence of childhood eczema in an adult population. Methods: A questionnaire regarding past and present eczema was sent to 557 cases (with signs suggesting the diagnosis AD) and 554 matched controls (subjects lacking signs of AD) born during 1960-1969 and identified in school health medical records. Cases and controls were... (More)
Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is common in the population, and studies have shown that the disease is on the increase. Studies based on hospital records reflect selected populations and may miss less severe cases of AD, and the use of self-reported questionnaires has the drawback of recall bias. Objectives: To investigate some possible factors influencing recall bias when questionnaires are used to establish the prevalence of childhood eczema in an adult population. Methods: A questionnaire regarding past and present eczema was sent to 557 cases (with signs suggesting the diagnosis AD) and 554 matched controls (subjects lacking signs of AD) born during 1960-1969 and identified in school health medical records. Cases and controls were aged 31-42 years at the time of the study and 70.5% returned the questionnaire. Results: Of 403 cases, 29% did not report childhood eczema in the questionnaire. There was a difference between those who did recall their childhood AD (remembering group, RG), and those who did not (forgetful group, FG) in who had documented the diagnostic signs in the school health records. In the RG the signs were reported by both parents and school health personnel in 51% of cases, and in the FG this was true of only 16%. The RG had a higher prevalence of eczema after 15 years of age and of hand eczema. The RG also reported more visits to physicians after the age of 15 years and more time taken as sick leave due to eczema. Conclusions: Several factors influence how well people remember their AD in childhood. These factors include disease activity in adult life, disease severity, and who noticed the eczema in childhood. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
questionnaire, childhood eczema, population-based study, recall bias
in
British Journal of Dermatology
volume
155
issue
3
pages
557 - 560
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • wos:000239693700009
  • scopus:33747048909
ISSN
1365-2133
DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2133.2006.07372.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Pediatrics/Urology/Gynecology/Endocrinology (013240400)
id
ad75153e-7ce6-452e-8711-6142b42505c4 (old id 686278)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:42:57
date last changed
2022-04-20 20:46:52
@article{ad75153e-7ce6-452e-8711-6142b42505c4,
  abstract     = {{Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is common in the population, and studies have shown that the disease is on the increase. Studies based on hospital records reflect selected populations and may miss less severe cases of AD, and the use of self-reported questionnaires has the drawback of recall bias. Objectives: To investigate some possible factors influencing recall bias when questionnaires are used to establish the prevalence of childhood eczema in an adult population. Methods: A questionnaire regarding past and present eczema was sent to 557 cases (with signs suggesting the diagnosis AD) and 554 matched controls (subjects lacking signs of AD) born during 1960-1969 and identified in school health medical records. Cases and controls were aged 31-42 years at the time of the study and 70.5% returned the questionnaire. Results: Of 403 cases, 29% did not report childhood eczema in the questionnaire. There was a difference between those who did recall their childhood AD (remembering group, RG), and those who did not (forgetful group, FG) in who had documented the diagnostic signs in the school health records. In the RG the signs were reported by both parents and school health personnel in 51% of cases, and in the FG this was true of only 16%. The RG had a higher prevalence of eczema after 15 years of age and of hand eczema. The RG also reported more visits to physicians after the age of 15 years and more time taken as sick leave due to eczema. Conclusions: Several factors influence how well people remember their AD in childhood. These factors include disease activity in adult life, disease severity, and who noticed the eczema in childhood.}},
  author       = {{Moberg, C. and Meding, B. and Stenberg, B. and Svensson, Åke and Lindberg, M.}},
  issn         = {{1365-2133}},
  keywords     = {{questionnaire; childhood eczema; population-based study; recall bias}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{557--560}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{British Journal of Dermatology}},
  title        = {{Remembering childhood atopic dermatitis as an adult: factors that influence recollection}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2006.07372.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1365-2133.2006.07372.x}},
  volume       = {{155}},
  year         = {{2006}},
}