Remote Interdisciplinary Care for Atopic Dermatitis Using a Digital Care Concept (ADCompanion): Protocol for a Multicenter Randomized Trial.

Authors

Stephanie Dramburg, Camilo José Hernandez Toro, Josephine Telschow, Susanne Abraham, Meslina Almaci, Anna Behringer, Simone Christel, Angela Cornelius, Janina Feustel, Sascha Fischer, Isabelle Gloeyer, Nadia Günther, Katharina Hagemeister, Eckard Hamelmann, Leonard Harries, Annice Heratizadeh, Nora Knappe, Sonja Lämmel, Eva Moennig, Irena Neustädter, Christina Pham, Laura Rechtien, Thomas Reinhold, Christina Schnopp, Christina Schorlemer, Lukas Sollfrank, Sophie Spies, Kristina Stamos, Michael Sticherling, Piera Tierno, Marion Trentmann, Marie-Therese Unterweger, Christian Vogelberg, Hanna Winkler, Margitta Worm, Mehrak Yoosefi, Ulrike Grittner

Published in

JMIR research protocols. Volume 15. Pages e88025. Aug 20, 2026. Epub Aug 20, 2026.

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin diseases, associated with itching, sleep disturbance, and impaired quality of life. Structured patient education can improve disease outcomes, but in-person programs are often unavailable in rural or underserved areas. Digital interventions may help overcome these barriers; however, their efficacy compared with routine care has not been evaluated.
This study aims to assess whether a digitally delivered, interdisciplinary care concept (ADCompanion) is noninferior to routine, real-world care, as available in well-served areas, in reducing disease severity among patients with AD. Secondary objectives include effects on quality of life, pruritus, psychosocial burden, family well-being, and health care costs.
This is a prospective, multicenter, 2-arm, 1:1 randomized noninferiority trial. Participants are stratified by age and disease severity. The intervention group receives standard therapy plus access to a digital platform with training modules and optional video consultations on skin care, nutrition, and psychosocial support. The control group receives routine care, optionally including face-to-face group training where available, and a basic app version for symptom tracking. The primary endpoint is physician-assessed disease severity (Scoring Atopic Dermatitis Index [SCORAD]) at 6 months; secondary endpoints include patient-reported outcomes, itch, quality of life, and disease-related costs.
Recruitment of 603 participants across 7 centers in Germany was completed. Data collection was finalized in June 2025. At the time of protocol submission (February 2026), data cleaning had been completed, and the statistical analysis plan was finalized; final results are expected to be published in 2026.
This protocol describes a randomized trial designed to evaluate whether digitally delivered interdisciplinary care is noninferior to routine care for patients with AD. The findings of this study will inform the role of digital patient education as a complementary component within established care structures.

PMID:
42623175
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 21 Aug 2026.

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