Clinical Report: Connected Health May Match In-Person AD Care

Overview

A pragmatic randomized clinical trial involving 300 patients with atopic dermatitis demonstrated that a team-based connected health model achieved improvements in disease severity and symptoms comparable to conventional in-person care over 12 months.

Background

The management of atopic dermatitis (AD) is crucial due to its impact on patients' quality of life and the increasing demand for dermatological services. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of virtual care models, prompting investigations into their efficacy compared to traditional in-person care. Understanding the effectiveness of connected health models is essential for expanding access to dermatology services and optimizing patient outcomes.

Data Highlights

Key Findings

• The connected health model met prespecified criteria for equivalence on the primary outcome, EASI.
• Improvements in patient-reported symptoms (POEM) and physician-assessed severity (vIGA) were also equivalent between groups.
• Only six patients in the connected health group required in-person visits, compared to an average of 2.4 visits in the conventional care group.
• More than 95% of participants completed follow-up assessments, indicating high retention.
• Safety outcomes were comparable, with no serious adverse events related to the interventions.

Clinical Implications

The findings suggest that a team-based connected health model can effectively manage atopic dermatitis, potentially reducing the need for in-person visits. This model may enhance access to care for patients with varying levels of digital literacy and access.

Conclusion

This study supports the use of a connected health model as a viable alternative to traditional in-person care for patients with atopic dermatitis, demonstrating equivalent clinical outcomes over a 12-month period.

Related Resources & Content

1. Armstrong AW, et al., JAMA Dermatology, 2026 -- Online vs In-Person Care for Atopic Dermatitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial
2. American Academy of Dermatology -- Atopic dermatitis clinical guideline
3. Journal of General Internal Medicine — Optimization of Virtual and In-Person Care Coordination Between VA Primary Care and Mental Health Teams: A Qualitative Study
4. the medicine maker — Connected Patient-Centricity
5. JAMA Network Open — Hybrid Hospital at Home and Physical Activity for Adults Admitted to the Hospital With Acute Illness: A
6. Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) — Improving Home Care Safety Among Informal Caregivers Through Immersive Digital Simulation: Secondary Analysis of 3 Coordinated Intervention Studies
7. Connected Patient-Centricity
8. Hybrid Hospital at Home and Physical Activity for Adults Admitted to the Hospital With Acute Illness
9. Online vs In-Person Care for Atopic Dermatitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial | Trials | JAMA Dermatology | JAMA Network
10. Atopic dermatitis clinical guideline
11. Effectiveness of Teledermatology in Clinical, Patient, and Operational Outcomes: A Systematic Review | Dermatology Practical & Conceptual