title: Extending psychosocial assessment of patients with psoriasis in the UK, using a self-rateds, web-based survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Quality of life self-rating using a web-based survey has not previously been evaluated for psoriasis in the UK.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To use an open-access web-based survey to assess the effect of psoriasis on patients' daily life. Methods.  The survey was conducted using a dedicated website endorsed by a UK psoriasis patient charity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 1760 patients (1102 women, 658 men; median age range 40-44 years) assessed their psoriasis using the website. Psoriasis was 'very' or 'extremely' active in 52%, and 71% had been diagnosed > 10 years previously. Psoriasis had negatively affected the working life of 59% of patients, and the educational performance of 31%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of an open-access web-based survey may address potential bias in previous studies, but may itself introduce a bias towards younger patients. This is the first report of a web-based survey of UK patients with psoriasis, providing further recent evidence of how psoriasis affects patients' lives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, UK. alex.anstey@wales.nhs.uk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anstey
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: McAteer
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kamath
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Percival
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult