Abstract
Atopic diseases, such as eczema and food allergy, have increased in prevalence in Australia during the past few decades and pose a significant health burden on patients, their families and the healthcare system. Eczema is also referred to as atopic dermatitis or atopic eczema. For the purpose of this chapter, the term eczema will be used.
With eczema increasing in Australia and being the leading cause of the global burden from skin disease as well as long specialist waiting times, there was a pressing need to address timely access to care for infants and children with eczema in Western Australia (WA). Recent research shows the altered skin barrier in people with eczema has a key role in the development of food allergy and suggests sensitisation to allergenic foods may occur through this impaired skin barrier. Therefore, an urgency also exists to effectively manage eczema to reduce the risk of food allergy development.
Funding was sought to develop and implement a multidisciplinary eczema shared care model involving consumers to optimise eczema management and improve timely access to care for children with eczema. The model was piloted in WA, and engagement with national partner organisations was undertaken to promote consistent evidence-based eczema information state-wide and Australia-wide. Potential national roll-out of the model was also proposed.
With eczema increasing in Australia and being the leading cause of the global burden from skin disease as well as long specialist waiting times, there was a pressing need to address timely access to care for infants and children with eczema in Western Australia (WA). Recent research shows the altered skin barrier in people with eczema has a key role in the development of food allergy and suggests sensitisation to allergenic foods may occur through this impaired skin barrier. Therefore, an urgency also exists to effectively manage eczema to reduce the risk of food allergy development.
Funding was sought to develop and implement a multidisciplinary eczema shared care model involving consumers to optimise eczema management and improve timely access to care for children with eczema. The model was piloted in WA, and engagement with national partner organisations was undertaken to promote consistent evidence-based eczema information state-wide and Australia-wide. Potential national roll-out of the model was also proposed.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Worldwide Successful Pediatric Nurse-Led Models of Care |
Editors | Cecily Bratz |
Publisher | Springer Nature Switzerland AG |
Pages | 243-265 |
Number of pages | 23 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 978-3-031-22152-1 |
ISBN (Print) | 978-3-031-22151-4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 31 Jan 2023 |