Efficacy of a single educative intervention in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis.
BACKGROUND
An effective patient-physician relationship is important in the management of psoriatic patients.


OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to investigate the efficacy of an educational intervention for patients with psoriasis in improving disease knowledge and attitude towards physicians and systemic treatments.


METHODS
The intervention consisted of a single, 2-hour educational programme conducted either by a dermatologist or by a dermatologist and a psychologist. Information on psoriasis and its treatment was given. A questionnaire concerning knowledge about psoriasis was administered before and after the programme, and after 6 months.


RESULTS
123 patients were enrolled. They reported a high degree of satisfaction with the intervention, improvement in knowledge about the disease and a better attitude towards therapy. After 6 months a better knowledge about the disease and a higher attitude to treatment were retained.


CONCLUSIONS
A single educational intervention may be helpful in improving psoriasis knowledge and give psychological relief to patients.
Department of Biomedical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Dermatology and Venereology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Viviana
V
Lora
Paolo
P
Gisondi
Anna
A
Calza
Mauro
M
Zanoni
Giampiero
G
Girolomoni
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires