A pilot study of a community pharmacist intervention to promote the effective use of emollients in childhood eczema

Outcome Measures Parentor child-rated severity of itch; parentor child-rated severity of sleep disturbance, irritability and skin appearance; emollient use (adherence); attitudes to eczema and emollient therapy. Results 50 subjects completed the intervention and follow-up. 20% had previously been shown how to apply emollient creams by a GP or nurse but only 10% were applying them correctly. There was a small, statistically significant reduction in itch following the intervention (mean reduction 1.43, SD 2.76, t=3.61, P=0.001), a small, statistically significant reduction in irritability (mean reduction 1.23, SD 2.84, t=2.86, P=0.006) but little reduction in sleep disturbance or skin appearance. 44% of subjects experienced a 50% or more reduction in itch and irritability. Following the intervention, there was an increase in the number of subjects who applied emollient creams correctly.