Document Detail


Patient compliance and disease management in the treatment of psoriasis in the Netherlands.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  10894958     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Compliance behaviour and disease management are important issues in chronic skin diseases. Psoriasis patients are 'experts by experience' because of many years of treatment. Therefore, it is relevant to gather data from patients on the actual use of antipsoriatic treatments. OBJECTIVE: The following questions are addressed: (1) What is the present mode of prescription and actual use of antipsoriatic treatments, including topical treatments, photo(chemo)therapy and systemic treatments? (2) What information do patients expect from their doctor, and do they actually receive this information. METHODS: To answer these questions, a questionnaire survey was mailed to the subscribers of Psoriasis, the journal of the Dutch Psoriasis Patients' Organisation. RESULTS: (1) Major issues in the treatment of psoriasis are (a) long-term management, (b) control of mild, moderate but also extensive psoriasis and (c) control of psoriasis on difficult localisations. Patients perceive itch, scaliness and visibility as major criteria for efficacy. (2) Topical treatment is the mainstay in the management of psoriasis. Calcipotriol is the most prescribed drug. Photo(chemo)therapy has an intermediate position between topical and systemic treatments. UVB is prescribed more than twice as frequently as PUVA and 10% of the patients on photo(chemo)therapy proved to be treated with UVB at home. Only 16% of the patients were on a systemic treatment; methotrexate and acitretin were the most frequently used systemic treatments. (3) More than 70% of the patients indicated that they had taken part in the selection of a treatment. In general, the patients were satisfied about the contact with their dermatologist and general practitioner. Compliance with the duration of treatment is limited, especially with regard to topical treatment. Patient compliance with the dose of the treatment is better. Again compliance is the worst in topical treatments. (4) Patients have a strong preference for an effective treatment which is safe for long-term use. Only a minority of patients wants a fast clearing treatment. CONCLUSION: Itch, scaliness and visibility provide the most relevant information on the severity of psoriasis, as the patients perceive themselves. Treatment duration is often unrestricted, especially with regard to topical treatments, which implies that the cumulative toxicity potential of these treatments may have a serious impact on their safety profile. Patients regard it of importance to have a vote in the selection of the treatment and regard safety as more important than fast clearing.
Authors:
P C van de Kerkhof; D de Hoop; J de Korte; S A Cobelens; M V Kuipers
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland)     Volume:  200     ISSN:  1018-8665     ISO Abbreviation:  Dermatology (Basel)     Publication Date:  2000  
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2000-08-23     Completed Date:  2000-08-23     Revised Date:  2004-11-17    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9203244     Medline TA:  Dermatology     Country:  SWITZERLAND    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  292-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
Copyright 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel
Affiliation:
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Child
Child, Preschool
Drug Therapy / statistics & numerical data
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Netherlands / epidemiology
Patient Compliance*
Photochemotherapy / statistics & numerical data
Psoriasis / drug therapy*,  epidemiology
Questionnaires
Skin / drug effects,  pathology
Treatment Outcome

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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