Patient attitudes to topical antipsoriatic treatment with calcipotriol and dithranol.
OBJECTIVE
Assessment of patient preference for antipsoriatic treatment with calcipotriol ointment or short-contact dithranol cream.


METHODS
Two hundred and fifty-eight psoriatic patients treated with calcipotriol (n = 138) or dithranol (n = 120) for up to 3 months, assessed the acceptability of treatment, overall satisfaction with treatment, their treatment preference using the 'willingness to pay' principle and selected their treatment of choice.


RESULTS
Overall satisfaction with calcipotriol was significantly better (72.7%, dithranol 60.3%; odds ratio 1.75, 95% CI 1.03, 2.99: P = 0.04). Patients considered calcipotriol a more acceptable treatment than dithranol in its appearance, smell, non-irritancy, method and ease of application and lack of staining. Dithranol was considered less sticky than calcipotriol. Patients were 'willing to pay' a mean of pound sterling 12.16 monthly for calcipotriol and pound sterling 10.66 monthly for dithranol. 'Willingness to pay' did not correlate well with overall treatment satisfaction and was not correlated with household income. Calcipotriol was the preferred treatment of choice (calcipotriol 63%, dithranol 24%).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with psoriasis prefer treatment with calcipotriol ointment over short-contact dithranol cream.
Poyner
T F
TF
Queens Park Medical Centre, Stockton-on-Tees, UK.
Menday
A P
AP
Williams
Z V
ZV
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000875:Anthralin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001290:Attitude; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D009824:Ointments; C055085:calcipotriene; D002117:Calcitriol; D000875:Anthralin