Treatment decision needs of psoriasis patients: cross-sectional survey.
BACKGROUND
Informed shared decision making is a mutual process engaging both doctor and patient and informed by best medical evidence and patient values and preferences.


OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to identify the needs of psoriasis patients in decisions on selecting treatment.


METHODS
Psoriasis subjects participated in an online survey on decisional role, postdecisional conflict, and treatment awareness.


RESULTS
Of 2,622 people invited to participate, 248 completed surveys. Their most recent treatment decision was either made by subjects alone (42%) or physicians alone (28%) or was shared (29%). Subjects perceived that their doctors lacked time to stay abreast of treatments, to provide counseling, and to access appropriate treatments. Deficiencies most frequently identified were information on options, clarification of values, access to physicians, and decision-making skills. Those with a body surface area (BSA) ≥ 3% more frequently indicated that having the skill or ability to make treatment decisions was important.


CONCLUSIONS
The limitations of this study include sampling, recall, and reporting bias. Percent BSA was not verified.


CONCLUSIONS
The multiple deficiencies in support of psoriasis patients in treatment decisions may preclude informed shared decision making.
Tan
Jerry
J
Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada. jerrytan@bellnet.ca
Stacey
Dawn
D
Fung
Karen
K
Barankin
Benjamin
B
Bissonnette
Robert
R
Gulliver
Wayne
W
Lui
Harvey
H
Shear
Neil
N
Jackson
Christine
C
Zhang
Xuemao
X
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000628:therapy*