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A guidelines-based educational program on treating acne in teenagers has led to significant improvements in pediatricians’ management of the condition and decreased referrals to dermatologists, new research suggests.
A research letter published online May in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology described the results of a study involving 116 pediatricians, who participated in an educational program, including brief live sessions, on how to manage acne in teenagers.
After 4 months, researchers saw that acne-coded visits to pediatricians increased by 18% (P less than .001), but this did not translate to more work for the physicians involved; instead, three-quarters of those involved said the treatment process involved “minimal to no work.”
At the same time, the intervention was associated with a 26% decrease in the percentage of acne referrals to dermatologists, reported Jenna Borok of the Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, and her coauthors.
The researchers saw a fivefold increase in the likelihood of pediatricians prescribing retinoids (P = .003), after controlling for confounding factors such as sex and insurance status, and significantly less topical clindamycin being prescribed.
The study was initiated to address what the authors described as a “practice gap” between pediatricians treating acne, compared with dermatologists treating acne, which included significantly lower prescribing rates of topical retinoids among pediatricians.
Ms. Borok and her coauthors wrote that their educational program and prescribing tool aimed to address this practice gap without increasing the workload for pediatricians or dermatologists. “Adherence to guidelines by pediatricians has the potential to improve treatment provided in the primary care setting, better patient satisfaction, and allow greater access to dermatologists and pediatric dermatologists for patients with more severe acne and other conditions.”
Acknowledging that the study took place over a relatively short period of time, the authors said future research would examine the impact of the educational program and ordering tool on patient acne outcomes.
No funding or conflicts of interest were declared.
SOURCE: Borok J et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 May 9. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.04.055.
A guidelines-based educational program on treating acne in teenagers has led to significant improvements in pediatricians’ management of the condition and decreased referrals to dermatologists, new research suggests.
A research letter published online May in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology described the results of a study involving 116 pediatricians, who participated in an educational program, including brief live sessions, on how to manage acne in teenagers.
After 4 months, researchers saw that acne-coded visits to pediatricians increased by 18% (P less than .001), but this did not translate to more work for the physicians involved; instead, three-quarters of those involved said the treatment process involved “minimal to no work.”
At the same time, the intervention was associated with a 26% decrease in the percentage of acne referrals to dermatologists, reported Jenna Borok of the Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, and her coauthors.
The researchers saw a fivefold increase in the likelihood of pediatricians prescribing retinoids (P = .003), after controlling for confounding factors such as sex and insurance status, and significantly less topical clindamycin being prescribed.
The study was initiated to address what the authors described as a “practice gap” between pediatricians treating acne, compared with dermatologists treating acne, which included significantly lower prescribing rates of topical retinoids among pediatricians.
Ms. Borok and her coauthors wrote that their educational program and prescribing tool aimed to address this practice gap without increasing the workload for pediatricians or dermatologists. “Adherence to guidelines by pediatricians has the potential to improve treatment provided in the primary care setting, better patient satisfaction, and allow greater access to dermatologists and pediatric dermatologists for patients with more severe acne and other conditions.”
Acknowledging that the study took place over a relatively short period of time, the authors said future research would examine the impact of the educational program and ordering tool on patient acne outcomes.
No funding or conflicts of interest were declared.
SOURCE: Borok J et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 May 9. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.04.055.
A guidelines-based educational program on treating acne in teenagers has led to significant improvements in pediatricians’ management of the condition and decreased referrals to dermatologists, new research suggests.
A research letter published online May in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology described the results of a study involving 116 pediatricians, who participated in an educational program, including brief live sessions, on how to manage acne in teenagers.
After 4 months, researchers saw that acne-coded visits to pediatricians increased by 18% (P less than .001), but this did not translate to more work for the physicians involved; instead, three-quarters of those involved said the treatment process involved “minimal to no work.”
At the same time, the intervention was associated with a 26% decrease in the percentage of acne referrals to dermatologists, reported Jenna Borok of the Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, and her coauthors.
The researchers saw a fivefold increase in the likelihood of pediatricians prescribing retinoids (P = .003), after controlling for confounding factors such as sex and insurance status, and significantly less topical clindamycin being prescribed.
The study was initiated to address what the authors described as a “practice gap” between pediatricians treating acne, compared with dermatologists treating acne, which included significantly lower prescribing rates of topical retinoids among pediatricians.
Ms. Borok and her coauthors wrote that their educational program and prescribing tool aimed to address this practice gap without increasing the workload for pediatricians or dermatologists. “Adherence to guidelines by pediatricians has the potential to improve treatment provided in the primary care setting, better patient satisfaction, and allow greater access to dermatologists and pediatric dermatologists for patients with more severe acne and other conditions.”
Acknowledging that the study took place over a relatively short period of time, the authors said future research would examine the impact of the educational program and ordering tool on patient acne outcomes.
No funding or conflicts of interest were declared.
SOURCE: Borok J et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 May 9. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.04.055.
FROM THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY
Key clinical point:
Major finding: An education program for pediatricians on acne treatment increased retinoid prescribing but decreased referrals to dermatologists.
Study details: Interventional study in 116 pediatricians.
Disclosures: No funding or conflicts of interest were declared.
Source: Borok J et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 May 9. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.04.055.
