title: Positive changes in self-management and disease severity following climate therapy in people with psoriasis.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of climate therapy on self-management in people with psoriasis. This was a prospective study of 254 adults with chronic psoriasis who participated in a 3-week climate therapy (CT) programme. The 8-scale Health Education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ) was completed at baseline, after 3 weeks of CT, and 3 months later. Change was assessed using paired sample t-tests mean (95% confidence interval) change scores (range 1-4). All heiQ scales showed statistically significant improvement after 3 weeks of CT. The greatest improvement was in Health-directed activity, followed by Emotional distress, and Skill and technique acquisition. At the 3-month follow-up, only the Emotional distress scale remained improved. In addition, disease severity (self-administered PASI; SAPASI) improved significantly from before CT to 3 weeks and 3 months after CT. This study suggests that CT provides a range of benefits that are important to people with psoriasis, particularly in the short term. A challenge is how to achieve long-term benefits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Institute of Health and Society, the Medical Faculty, University of Oslo, NO-0317 Oslo, Norway. a.k.wahl@medisin.uio.no.
authors.forename: Astrid K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Wahl
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Langeland
authors.forename: Marie H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Hilde S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.forename: Anne-Lene
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Krogstad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D013790:Climatotherapy; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D012648:Self Care; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult