title: The Use of PRISM (Pictorial Representation of Illness and Self Measure) in Patients Affected by Chronic Cutaneous Ulcers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  PRISM (Pictorial Representation of Illness and Self Measure) is a nonverbal visualization instrument. The authors chose to use this tool to avoid the limitation of the other tests for the assessment of quality of life by using interview methods that depend on the cognitive and cultural level of the patient. The aim of the study was to assess the impact on the quality of life of different types of chronic wounds using the PRISM test.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PRISM test was administered by the same medical student to each patient visiting the dermatology department for a routine visit and medication.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PRISM test was administered to 77 patients with chronic cutaneous ulcers referred to the Dermatology Department of the Spedali Civili of Brescia, Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors analyzed the "Self-llness-Separation"' (SIS) value, which resulted from the PRISM test, and related it to sex, age, and ulcer etiology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Considering all categories, the mean SIS was 9.58 cm; a different perception of the disease between the sexes was noted and also in the subgroups based on the ulcer's different etiology. In addition, the age of the affected patients influenced the SIS value.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PRISM is an easy and sensitive instrument to record information about the patient's expectations and suffering in order to improve the overall physician-patient relationship.
authors.affiliation: Paola Monari, MD, is a Dermatologist, Dermatology Department, A.O. Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy; Laura Pelizzari, is a sixth-year Medical Student, University of Brescia, Italy; Silvia Crotti, MD, is a Resident Physician, General Medicine School of Pavia, Italy; Giovanni Damiani is Resident Physician, Dermatology Department, University of Trieste, Italy; Piergiacomo Calzavara-Pinton, PhD, is Head Physician, Dermatological Department, O.A. Spedali Civili of Brescia, and Director, Dermatology School at the University of Brescia, Italy; and Giulio Gualdi, MD, is a Dermatologist, Dermatology Department, A.O. Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Monari
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pelizzari
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crotti
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Damiani
authors.forename: Piergiacomo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calzavara-Pinton
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gualdi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012649:Self Concept; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires