A year ago, Mathilde Torp Schou, a student at International Community Health in the University of Oslo, worked as a nurse at Queen Ingrid’s Hospital in Nuuk.
– I noticed that many children suffered from atopic dermatitis, often referred to as “eczema”, and became aware that it is a significant challenge for many Greenlandic families, she says.
Then she came across several articles in Sermitsiaq mentioning that many Greenlandic families have traveled to Denmark for treatment, as they felt they didn’t receive adequate help from the Greenlandic healthcare system.
– This made me wonder how a skin condition could compel parents to fly far to find the necessary support. I asked myself how atopic dermatitis is managed in Greenland and how parents perceive the care and support they receive from the healthcare system, Torp Schou says.
From there she decided to focus her master’s thesis on studying the management of atopic dermatitis in children in Greenland, which she is currently pursuing.
Parents oversee treatment, so we need to understand their 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, Torp Schou explains.
The interviews have been open-ended and exploratory, allowing her to learn what matters most to parents and what they find important. Additionally, she is conducting fieldwork at the dermatology clinic in Queen Ingrid’s Health Center, engaging in informal conversations with staff and parents of children with eczema.
– 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, she says.
Parents often encounter dismissive comments from others, such as, “It’s just eczema.” However, many parents described 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
Torp Schou thinks 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, she says.
Torp Schou found that Greenlandic herbal medicine 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, she says.
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, Torp Schou says.
– 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, she ensures.
About atopic dermatitis
- Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin disease that affects many children in Greenland. It is commonly referred to as “eczema.”
- According to a study, one in three children of Inuit descent under the age of seven has atopic dermatitis.
- Treatment typically includes a combination of emollient creams, patient education, steroid creams, and antibiotics if the sores become infected.
- Parents or primary caregivers are responsible for administering treatment at home.
Source: Anna Andersson, “Prevalence and risk factors for atopic dermatitis in Greenlandic children” (2023).
This article was first published by Mathilde Torp Schou in Arctichub