title: French people and skin diseases: results of a survey using a representative sample.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate, from the patients' viewpoint, the prevalence, management, and impact of main dermatologic disorders in France.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey conducted from March 28 to May 6, 2002, with the Sofres Taylor Nelson Institute on 10,000 households using 1 questionnaire per household.
  
  
  METHODS
  General community.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 25,441 subjects from 10,000 households determined to be representative of the French population and regularly surveyed by the Taylor Nelson Sofres Institute.
  
  
  METHODS
  Estimation of the prevalence of skin disorders by the French population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 10 000 households, 7466 (74.7%) returned the questionnaire, which was completed for 18,137 (71.3%) of the 25,441 subjects. Of those, 15,742 reported having had skin problems since birth, or, by extrapolation, 86.8% (47.29 million) of the French population; 7841 reported having had skin problems in the past 24 months, or, by extrapolation, 43.2% (23.53 million) of the French population; and 28.7% said that their skin problems impaired their daily life. However, 61% of the sample were satisfied with their dermatologist.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This survey of perceived health status in France highlights both the prevalence of skin disorders and the underestimation of the effects of dermatologic disorders in public health. A majority of the French population is satisfied with the care supplied by dermatologists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Public Health, University Paris XII, Hôpital Henri-Mondor (AP-HP), Créteil, France.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wolkenstein
authors.forename: Jean-Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Grob
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bastuji-Garin
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruszczynski
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Roujeau
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Revuz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003880:Dermatology; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires