title: The German National Program on Psoriasis Health Care 2005-2015: results and experiences.
abstract: In 2005, the first national psoriasis survey in Germany revealed large deficits in health care particularly in patients with moderate to severe disease. The consecutive goal was to improve health care for psoriasis countrywide. For this, a large-scale national program was initiated starting with a comprehensive analysis of structures and processes of care for psoriasis. Patient burden, economic impact and barriers to care were systematically analyzed. In order to optimize routine care, a S3 guideline, a set of outcomes measures and treatment goals, were developed. Implementation was enforced by the German Psoriasis Networks (PsoNet) connecting the most dedicated dermatologists. The annual National Conference on Health Care in Psoriasis established in 2009 consented National Health Care Goals in Psoriasis 2010-2015 and defined a set of quality indicators, which are monitored on a regular basis. Currently 28 regional networks including more than 800 dermatologists are active. Between 2005 and 2014 7 out of 8 quality indicators have markedly improved, and regional disparities were resolved. e.g., mean PASI (Psoriasis Area Severity Index) dropped from 11.4 to 8.1 and DLQI (Dermatology Life Quality Index) from 8.6 to 5.9. A decade of experience indicates that a coordinated nationwide psoriasis program based on goal orientation can contribute to better quality of care and optimized outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany. m.augustin@uke.de.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Augustin
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eissing
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Langenbruch
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Enk
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Muenster (UKM), Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Luger
authors.affiliation: Dermatological Practice Maxdorf, Maxdorf, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maaßen
authors.affiliation: Department for Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mrowietz
authors.affiliation: Dermatological Practice Dermatologikum Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reich
authors.affiliation: Dermatological Practice Tibarg, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reusch
authors.affiliation: Dermatological Practice Mönchengladbach, Mönchengladbach, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Strömer
authors.affiliation: Department for Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thaçi
authors.affiliation: Dermatological Practice Selters, Selters, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: von Kiedrowski
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Radtke
mesh_terms: D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D058996:Quality Improvement; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care
keywords: Health Care Program; Long-term outcomes; Psoriasis; Quality of health care