Virtual group visits to reduce psychosocial distress and racial disparities in pediatric vitiligo and alopecia areata patients

Abstract

We examined the potential for virtual, pediatric group visits to reduce racial disparities in psychosocial isolation and access to care among children of color with pediatric vitiligo and alopecia areata as well as their caregivers. We have conducted 10 visits with 30 pediatric skin of color patients between 5 and 16 years old: 18 patients with alopecia areata, 12 with vitiligo, 59% female, 64% Black, and 23% Latinx, and 33 parents. After the visits, children and parents felt they had more people they knew and could reach out to about their dermatologic condition, the visits exceeded both children’s and parents’ expectations, and both children and parents reported that they would continue attending future group visits if offered. Group visits in the virtual format may present an opportunity for reducing racial disparities in psychosocial isolation and access to care across geographic locations in pediatric dermatology.

The psychosocial impacts of vitiligo, psoriasis, and alopecia areata on pediatric patients

“…Prior to the group visit, 90% of children and 85% of parents stated they knew few others with vitiligo. A post-session survey revealed the majority of patients and their parents found the visits helpful and would attend another group visit [41]. More research is needed to investigate these and other interventions in children with vitiligo and other dermatologic conditions.…”

Patient satisfaction with multidisciplinary shared medical appointments for alopecia areata and frontal fibrosing alopecia

“…2 Few studies have explored the role of this care model in patients with alopecia. 3,4 The aim of our study is to summarize patient satisfaction with a multidisciplinary SMA for patients with alopecia areata (AA) and frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA).…”

Disparities in Access to Treatment for Pigmentation Disorders

“…Khosla and colleagues found that virtual group support visits may reduce psychosocial isolation and improve access to care for children with vitiligo (as well as their parents), particularly among those from non-White racial backgrounds. 2 Moreover, a 1993-2010 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey study revealed that African American and Hispanic patients were less likely to have a procedure performed for dyschromia (N=24.7M, P<0.01), presumably owed to potential adverse effects in darkerskinned populations, yet more favorable combination regimens also remain underutilized in these groups. 3 Kang et al additionally highlight that more than a quarter of these patients rely on Medicare (9%) or self-pay (17%), which may alone pose significant barriers to cosmetic dyschromia treatment.…”