The impact of an extra follow-up visit on the adherence to a 4-week regimen of topical tacrolimus ointment 0.1% was evaluated in a prospective double-blind trial in 30 patients (aged 2-14 years) with moderate-severe atopic dermatitis (AD). The ointment was to be applied twice daily for 4 weeks. Half the patients were scheduled for an extra follow-up visit at 1 week. Adherence was measured via electronic monitors in the cap of the medication, but patients were blind to this fact until trial completion. Outcomes were measured via the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), Investigators' Global Assessment (IGA) and a pruritus Visual Analogue scale (VAS). Twenty-three patients completed the trial. Overall ...