*This information was originally published as part of an abstract for the ACAAI Annual Scientific Meeting 2025*
Understanding Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis (AD) in Young Children and the Unmet Patient Need
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin conditions. Recent approval of a biologic therapy for infants and young children with moderate-to-severe AD are poised to offer improved patient outcomes.
Despite these advances, adoption of biologic therapy to treat younger pediatric patients remains low. Gaps in awareness and communication between caregivers and healthcare providers (HCPs) may contribute to delayed treatment escalation and prolonged disease burden. Understanding these barriers, and aligning education across both audiences, is essential to improving outcomes in pediatric AD.
The Medlive Approach
To address these gaps, Medlive partnered with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP), and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) to deliver aligned educational initiatives for HCPs and caregivers.
Two accredited CME activities for allergists, immunologists, dermatologists, and pediatric specialists launched in August 2024: a 45-minute case-based discussion (Solving Challenging Cases of Atopic Dermatitis in Young Children) and a 30-minute panel session (Research Updates on Atopic Dermatitis Treatment in the Littles). These were supplemented by targeted micro-learning videos distributed via LinkedIn to NPI-verified clinicians.
Caregiver-focused education—Caring for the Littles with Atopic Dermatitis: Taking Care of Yourself and Your Child—was released as a four-part video series hosted on social media, designed to provide practical guidance on treatment options, mental health, and shared decision-making.
Key Findings
- Clinician learning gains: Knowledge improved significantly across both cohorts. Among allergists/immunologists and dermatologists (A-Is/Ds), correct responses rose from 67% to 85% for appropriate treatment selection and from 82% to 96% for recognition of biologic efficacy in young children. Primary care providers and pediatricians (PCPs/Ps) achieved similar gains (43% to 72% and 70% to 86%, respectively; p<0.01).
- Practice impact: 64% of HCPs reported they would consider using a biologic in children aged six months to under six years with moderate-to-severe AD, reflecting an increased readiness to integrate newer therapies into practice.
- Caregiver perspectives: 86% of caregivers participated to learn more about new treatment options, with only 8% reporting that their children were currently receiving a biologic therapy. However, after the activity, 67% indicated they were likely to discuss biologics with their child’s HCP.
- Barriers and misalignment: The most frequently cited barriers among clinicians were caregiver preference for non-injection treatments, concerns about side effects, and poor adherence. In contrast, caregivers prioritized rapid efficacy, ease of use, and safety—none reported aversion to injectable treatments.
Conclusion – Collaborating for Improved Patient Outcomes
Compared to primary care providers and pediatricians, allergists and dermatologists demonstrated greater familiarity with the safety, efficacy, and guideline-recommended use of biologics. However, findings revealed notable disconnects between caregiver priorities and HCP perceptions of treatment barriers, which may contribute to underuse of biologic therapy in pediatric patients.
These insights underscore the need for continued, parallel education to strengthen communication, clarify caregiver expectations, and improve access to biologic therapies for young children with atopic dermatitis. Through coordinated education for both clinicians and caregivers, Medlive continues to advance awareness, alignment, and early adoption of evidence-based care.
To learn more about partnering with Medlive to develop impactful CME programs, reach out via our Contact Us page.
This initiative was supported by an independent medical educational grant from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Sanofi.
