P069 Eczema and the UK cost-of-living crisis

Abstract The financial impact of eczema during the cost-of-living crisis is a difficult and often uncomfortable topic of discussion for caregivers or families managing eczema. The socioeconomic burden with eczema is relevant given that > 4 million children live in poverty in Britain. Following feedback from charity members, EOS (Eczema Outreach Support) sought to obtain parents’ and caregivers’ opinions in Britain, aiming to characterize the financial impact on families managing eczema. Over 3 weeks (October 2024), an anonymous public survey via SurveyMonkey was advertised to the public through social media platforms. Four questions with open-text answers were analysed, with focus on common themes. Question 1: ‘What are the biggest challenges that families struggling financially face when managing eczema?’ Significantly, 84% (68 of 81) of respondents stated they struggled with the cost of products when managing eczema, while 27% (22 of 81) suffered a detrimental impact on employment; ranging from caregivers taking time off work for child sickness absence to termination of employment. Around one-half (54%, 44 of 81) struggled with the cost of eczema-related clothing. Question 2: ‘What can healthcare providers do to help families?’. One-quarter (25%, 20 of 81) of respondents felt they would benefit from further financial advice and support, 20% (16 of 81) felt a wider range of prescription products would be helpful, and 19% (15 of 81) want subsidized food and clothing. Question 3: ‘Who else can help families managing eczema in financial insecurity and how?’ Among the respondents, 23% (19 of 81), 22% (18 of 81) and 22% (18 of 81) felt schools, charities and government support, respectively, could help families managing eczema during financial difficulties, while 19% (15 of 81) did not know who could help. Question 4: ‘Anything else you’d like to share?’ Notable comments include: ‘I was told my son (7) would grow out of it and still a struggle…hate this often wish I never had kids’; ‘Transport costs and clothing e.g. scratch sleeves are very costly and usually fall on the parent, some GPs will prescribe clothing but not all’; and ‘I got denied disability allowance when my skin was so bad, I get cuts all over my hands, that widen so much, I constantly used paper stitches, my hands bled when I tried to do simple tasks like get dressed, and the pain made me cry.’ The cost-of-living crisis is affecting families managing eczema. Common themes include purchasing nonprescription treatments and frequently replacing clothing and bedding. The impact of school absence on employment may be profound. Charities can provide unmet needs for patients who may not have other means of help. Given limited support networks in the UK, greater solutions are required to address multifaceted pressures.