Qualitative analysis of parents' experience of water softeners for children at risk of atopic eczema: lessons from the SOFtened waTER for Eczema prevention trial (SOFTER).

Background. Little is known about parents’ experience of using water softeners to potentially prevent and alleviate infants’ eczema. We used the context of a randomised controlled pilot trial to examine parents’ experiences. Aims. This study explored and compared the experiences of parents of infants at risk of eczema either using a water softener or not, their infant’s related skin care and participation in the SOFtened waTER for eczema prevention pilot trial (SOFTER NCT03270566). Methods. Qualitative method, Framework Analysis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with trial participants, 21 families of infants. Thematic analysis utilised NVivo software. Reporting followed the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) reporting standard.1 Results. Three key themes emerged related to parents’ lived experience of using a water softener (birth to six months of age): 1. Using and applying less skin product 2. Using ‘unscented’, ‘natural’, ‘allergy friendly’ (parental terms) products 3. Bathing frequency.

Conclusions. Using a water softener may reduce the frequency of and influence the choice of skin care products used. It may also impact bathing frequency by parents of high-risk infants.