Brief Reports

Addressing management gaps in atopic dermatitis: a behavioral analysis in Italian dermatology centers

Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Published: 26 October 2026
23
Views
8
Downloads

Authors

This brief report presents findings from a nationwide behavioral diagnostic study examining atopic dermatitis (AD) management across Italian dermatology centers. Using the COM-B model (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation), the study analyzed care pathways, decision-making dynamics, and organizational structures. Through interviews, workshops, and patient journey mapping, the research identified key behavioral and structural barriers and enabling factors. Gaps were observed in referral systems, disease awareness, multidisciplinary coordination, psychological support, and treatment accessibility. These behavioral diagnostics provided insights into the actions to be taken that can inform the planning of future interventions. These results highlight the urgent need for better strategies to improve AD care and patient outcomes in Italy.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Citations

Michie S, van Stralen MM, West R. The behavior change wheel: a new method for characterising and designing behavior change interventions. Implement Sci 2011;6:42.
Drucker AM, Wang AR, Li WQ, et al. The Burden of Atopic Dermatitis: Summary of a Report for the National Eczema Association. J Invest Dermatol 2017;137:26-30.
Silverberg JI. Comorbidities and the impact of atopic dermatitis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2019;123:144-51.
Simpson EL, Bieber T, Guttman-Yassky E, et al. Two Phase 3 Trials of Dupilumab versus Placebo in Atopic Dermatitis. N Engl J Med 2016;375:2335-48.
Weidinger S, Novak N. Atopic dermatitis. Lancet 2016;387:1109-22.
Paller AS, Spergel JM, Mina-Osorio P, Irvine AD. The atopic march and atopic multimorbidity: Many trajectories, many pathways. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2019;143:46-55.
Haddad EB, Cyr SL, Arima K, et al. Current and Emerging Strategies to Inhibit Type 2 Inflammation in Atopic Dermatitis. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) 2022;12:1501-33.
Staab D, Diepgen TL, Fartasch M, et al. Age related, structured educational programmes for the management of atopic dermatitis in children and adolescents: multicentre, randomised controlled trial. BMJ 2006;332:933-8.
Singleton H, Hodder A, Almilaji O, et al. Educational and psychological interventions for managing atopic dermatitis (eczema). Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2024;8:CD014932.
Hedman-Lagerlöf E, Fust J, Axelsson E, et al. Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Atopic Dermatitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Dermatol 2021;157:796-804.
Amerio P, Ferrucci SM, Galluzzo M, et al. A Multidisciplinary Approach Is Beneficial in Atopic Dermatitis. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) 2024;14:1443-55.
Misery L, Belloni Fortina A, El Hachem M, et al. A position paper on the management of itch and pain in atopic dermatitis from the International Society of Atopic Dermatitis (ISAD)/Oriented Patient-Education Network in Dermatology (OPENED) task force. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2021;35:787-96.
Guttman-Yassky E, Nosbaum A, Simpson E, Weidinger S. Pioneering global best practices in atopic dermatitis: results from the atopic dermatitis quality of care initiative. Clin Exp Dermatol 2022;47:303-11.
Wollenberg A, Christen-Zäch S, Taieb A, et al; European Task Force on Atopic Dermatitis/EADV Eczema Task Force. ETFAD/EADV Eczema task force 2020 position paper on diagnosis and treatment of atopic dermatitis in adults and children. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2020;34:2717-44.
Silverberg JI, Gelfand JM, Margolis DJ, et al. Atopic Dermatitis in US Adults: From Population to Health Care Utilization. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2019;7:1524-32.e2.

Supporting Agencies

This study was supported by an unrestricted grant from Almirall S.p.A. (Italy). The sponsor had no role in the study design; data collection, analysis, or interpretation; manuscript preparation; or the decision to publish. Medical writing assistance and coverage of the article processing charges were provided by The Bloc (Italy).

How to Cite



1.
Galluzzo M, Trave I. Addressing management gaps in atopic dermatitis: a behavioral analysis in Italian dermatology centers. Dermatol Reports [Internet]. 2026 Oct. 26 [cited 2026 Oct. 29];. Available from: https://journals.pagepress.net/dr/article/view/10948