title: Adherence in the treatment of psoriasis: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medication adherence and compliance are essential for disease management and can significantly improve outcomes and quality of patient care. The literature suggests that up to 40% of patients do not use their medication as intended.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To elucidate current knowledge on adherence/compliance in psoriasis. In particular, methods of adherence/compliance evaluation and influencing factors were to be identified.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic literature review based on a protocol-rooted search in online databases, followed by a structured critical appraisal and consecutive descriptive report.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-five original publications on adherence/compliance in psoriasis were identified, addressing the extent and quality of adherence/compliance in topical, systemic and UV treatments. Estimates of compliance varied considerably between 27 and 97%. Age, sex, psychosocial, disease-specific and treatment-specific factors were identified as predictors of adherence/compliance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A better understanding of the determinants of adherence can improve the outcomes of psoriasis treatment and lead to higher patient satisfaction and quality of care.
authors.affiliation: German Centre for Health Services Research in Dermatology, Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Augustin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dartsch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Langenbruch
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Radtke
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life