OBJECTIVES: The needs-assessment of mothers with children affected by dermatitis is crucial before any dermatological nurse intervention. The study was to identify priorities needs in such mothers to guide possible interventions. METHODS: Data collection was performed between May-June 2007 at IDI-IRCCS Rome, Italy, a dermatological reference hospital. 160 mothers received a modified Needs Assessment Questionnaire (NEQ) with 17 items, reported the Patient Global Assessment (PGA) to evaluate the perceived disease severity and filled in the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). RESULTS: The main needs were: to have more information about child diagnosis (59%), to receive more assistance after the end of hospital stay (48%), to receive more information about treatments (36%) and to improve symptoms control (36%). Mothers with high PGA showed an increase in the need to receive more assistance after the end of hospital stay (63%) and to improve symptoms control (56%). Among priorities: cognitive, psycho-relational, and skills need-areas were observed in 51, 29, and 24% respectively; 32% of the mothers in the study had all three areas of needs represented in the first three priorities. Most mothers set more than one cognitive need among the first three priorities. No statistically significant differences were observed in the percentages of priorities of needs between mothers who completed the questionnaires on their first in-hospital day compared to those who completed them on the following days. Moreover, no differences were observed between needs of mothers at their first hospitalization compared to those with previous multiple hospitalizations. Anxiety did not modify the priorities of needs. CONCLUSIONS: In order to inform and to educate mothers it is crucial to involve them in the care process. Parental need-assessment can be useful both to facilitate such involvement, and to better target interventions. Nurses involved in parental need-assessment can contribute substantially in improving critical areas of dermatological care.