Abstract
PURPOSE: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is prevalent among children and often requires family members to assume significant management responsibilities. Family management affects the child's disease prognosis and health as well as the family's functioning and overall quality of life. This integrative study aimed to identify the impact of AD on children and their families and examine child- and family-related factors that influence family management. METHODS: Guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA), a systematic search was conducted across five electronic databases (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed, Web of Science, Research Information Sharing Service, and Korean Information Service System) for studies published between 2000 and May 2024. Studies were screened using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to evaluate methodological quality. RESULTS: In total, 1,144 records were identified, and 14 studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings indicate that the impact of AD extends to both children, who experience psychological distress, sleep disturbances, impaired academic performance, and negative self-image, and families, who face treatment challenges, disrupted routines, and economic burden. Factors influencing family management were categorized into child-related factors (developmental stage and disease severity) and family-related factors (family burden, social support, coping strategies, and concerns regarding topical steroid use). CONCLUSION: Family management of pediatric AD is shaped by a complex interplay of child- and family-related factors. Therefore, interventions should be designed to strengthen coping resources, enhance social support, and reduce the management burden, promoting child well-being and family resilience.