Project focuses on parents of children with eczema

Understanding the parents’ perspective

The purpose of my study is to understand how parents perceive treatment and their interactions with the healthcare system. I aim to identify how the healthcare system can better support families in the future. To gain insights, I am conducting interviews with parents to understand their perspectives on the disease and access to care.

The interviews have been open-ended and exploratory, allowing me to learn what matters most to parents and what they find important. Additionally, I am conducting fieldwork at the dermatology clinic in Queen Ingrid’s Health Center, engaging in informal conversations with staff and parents of children with eczema.

Parents oversee treatment, so we need to understand their perspective

Many parents I’ve spoken to describe how eczema impacts the daily lives of their entire family. Some have found the condition to be more severe than initially expected, as it affects not only the child’s skin but also their sleep and social life.

Parents often encounter dismissive comments from others, such as, “It’s just eczema.” However, many parents describe spending several hours awake each night to prevent their child from scratching. In some cases, parents keep their children home from daycare or kindergarten and avoid social activities because their children react to certain stimuli.

Seeking advice on traditional methods

It is crucial to examine how parents understand the causes of atopic dermatitis in Greenland, especially because the healthcare system is built around Danish values and primarily staffed by Danish professionals, relying on a Western biomedical approach to health. A key focus of my study is to explore how various perceptions of medicine and illness intersect in Greenlandic society.

Many families seek advice on treatments through close relationships and social media. In their search for the best solution for their child, many parents are open to combining biomedical treatments with traditional methods.

Greenlandic herbal medicine, for instance, is often mentioned as a supplement to treatment, with ingredients such as Qajaasat (Arctic willow), Tupaarnat (Arctic thyme), and Kakillarnaq (Juniper). During interviews, parents often show me a variety of creams and products—both biomedical and traditional—recommended by the healthcare system, close relations, or social media.

The impact of the healthcare system’s structure

Another key aspect of my research is the structural framework within which parents and healthcare staff operate. Greenland’s vast geographical distances and the lack of permanent healthcare staff and specialists pose challenges for treatment continuity, both in Nuuk and coastal areas.

Parents have shared their experiences of meeting new doctors and nurses at each consultation, which can create frustration and uncertainty about their child’s treatment plan. Since atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin condition, families often need ongoing support and guidance, especially during outbursts or infections. Some parents feel as though they have to “start over” at each visit because the new doctor or nurse has not previously seen their child.

Improved treatment in the future

To address these challenges, the “Eczema School Kalaallit Nunaat” was launched last year. Its goal is to educate parents and caregivers on both preventing and managing atopic dermatitis. The project aims to enhance parents’ knowledge and skills so they can better handle their child’s eczema in daily life.

I look forward to continuing my research until the summer of 2025. I hope the insights gained can help Greenland’s healthcare system better support families managing atopic dermatitis in the future.

A heartfelt thank you to the parents who have shared their experiences with me so far. Your insights are vital to shedding light on atopic dermatitis in Greenland. This project will contribute to Greenlandic research, with findings being shared with parents through a research article.

Biomedical treatment and traditional methods

Biomedical medicine

-Biomedical medicine is a medical approach grounded in scientific methods, including randomized controlled trials and statistical analyses to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments. 

-Prioritizes evidence through quantitative data, ensuring results are replicable across cultures, time, and contexts.

Traditional Medicine

-Traditional medicine is rooted in cultural and societal contexts, with treatment methods ranging from acupuncture and Chinese medicine. 

-Evaluates the effectiveness of treatments through a humanistic perspective, focusing on the origins of illness and people’s perceptions of treatment methods.

Sources: 

Hans A. Baer, “Medical Pluralism: An Evolving and Contested Concept in Medical Anthropology”

Stefan Ecks, “The Objects of Evidence: Anthropological Approaches to the Production of Knowledge”

Singer et al., “Introduction to the Anthropology of Health”