Perception of disease and doctor-patient relationship experienced by patients with psoriasis: a questionnaire-based study

Autor: Dennis Linder, Emilia De Gennaro, Paolo Gisondi, Giampiero Girolomoni, Elena Dall’Olio, Enzo Berardesca, Alberto Giannetti, Andrea Peserico, Angelo Pennella
Rok vydání: 2009
Předmět:
Male
Anger
Personal hygiene
QUALITY-OF-LIFE
Surveys and Questionnaires
80 and over
Medicine
media_common
Aged
80 and over

Communication
illness
General Medicine
Psychodermatology
IMPAIRMENT
Focus Groups
Middle Aged
dermatology
PRURITUS
quality-of-life
focus groups
alexithymia. Impairment
management
pruritus
care
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Chronic Disease
Education
Medical
Continuing

Female
Humans
Italy
Patient Education as Topic
Psoriasis
Self Concept
Terminology as Topic
Young Adult
Attitude to Health
Physician-Patient Relations
2708
Feeling
Doctor–patient relationship
medicine.medical_specialty
FOCUS GROUPS
DERMATOLOGY
ALEXITHYMIA
MANAGEMENT
ILLNESS
media_common.quotation_subject
Education
Quality of life (healthcare)
Medical
business.industry
Continuing
medicine.disease
Focus group
Dermatology
Family medicine
business
Zdroj: American journal of clinical dermatology. 10(5)
ISSN: 1175-0561
Popis: Many studies have addressed the impact of psoriasis on quality of life, but few studies have investigated patient perception of the disease or the patient-physician relationship. As with most chronic diseases, improvement in the patient-physician relationship may be important in the proper management of patients with psoriasis. To assess how psoriasis and its treatments are subjectively experienced by patients as well as patient expectations with regard to the patient-physician relationship. A discussion agenda for 'focus group meetings' was organized by a group of sociologists, psychologists, educators, researchers, and clinicians active in the field of psychodermatology. Four meetings were held in Northern and Central Italy and participants included one moderator and either eight dermatologists or eight patients. Discussions were based on a predefined agenda and included: (i) the psychological representation of psoriasis; (ii) the hetero- and self-perception of the patient; (iii) the patient-physician relationship; and (iv) the development of an educational intervention for dermatologists in order to improve the patient-physician relationship. A questionnaire, based on the information gathered at the focus groups, was administered to 323 patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis from 17 dermatology clinics throughout Italy. Three hundred patients completed the questionnaire. Psoriasis elicited anger, annoyance at the inconvenience of the disease, and irritation in approximately 50% of the patients, whilst 38% of patients were unable to describe their emotional state. Aspects of life that were limited by psoriasis included clothing (57%), social interactions (43%), and personal hygiene (31%). The disease was often seen by patients as incomprehensible, incurable, and uncontrollable. More than half of the patients stressed their need to be listened to by the treating physician, and their wish that the physician should use simple language and should improve their psychological skills and interpersonal communication techniques. Dermatologists need to convey to patients with psoriasis the feeling of 'understanding the disease,' of hope about its curability, and the 'perception of control.' These elements should be taken into account when treating patients and whenever educational interventions are planned.
Databáze: OpenAIRE