Impact on quality of life of an intervention providing additional information to patients with allergic contact dermatitis; a randomized clinical trial

Background: Allergic contact dermatitis can negatively impact an individual's daily life in terms of work and interpersonal relationships. Patch-tested individuals show an improved quality of life (QoL). Objectives: We aimed to assess the impact on QoL after patch testing and what value an intervention would have on QoL. Methods: Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQI) were assessed in participants with positive patch test reaction. The participants were randomized, in parallel design, into two groups that received either standard information (controls, n = 70) or a reminder letter in addition to standard information (intervention group, n = 66), ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01953380. Results: The response rate was 74% (n = 136). The DLQI score was significantly lower 1 year after patch testing in comparison with baseline in the entire group (mean DLQI 6.3 and 4.5 respectively, 95% CI 0.93–2.72, P < 0.001). However, linear regression analyses showed no significant differences in DLQI score at follow-up between the intervention and control groups. Neither age nor gender had impact on DLQI score. Conclusion: There was an improvement of QoL at follow-up in the entire group. However, the intervention performed did not show any significantly greater improvement concerning QoL. Further research is needed to understand what factors apart from patch testing and medical care may affect QoL in patients with contact dermatitis, and what interventions are needed to improve QoL.