title: The Patient's Guide to Psoriasis Treatment. Part 2: PUVA Phototherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  PUVA treatment is photochemotherapy for psoriasis that combines psoralen with UVA radiation. Although PUVA is a very effective treatment option for psoriasis, there is an absence of patient resources explaining and demonstrating the process of PUVA. Studies have shown that patients who viewed videos explaining the treatment procedures for various medical conditions had a greater understanding of their treatment and were more active participants in their health.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present a freely available online guide and video on PUVA treatment designed for patient education on PUVA.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PUVA treatment protocol used at the University of California-San Francisco Psoriasis and Skin Treatment Center as well as available information from the literature was reviewed to design a comprehensive guide for patients receiving PUVA treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We created a printable guide and video resource that reviews the benefits and risks of PUVA, discusses the three types of PUVA (hand-foot soak, full body soak, and systemic), demonstrates the PUVA process, and provides practical tips for safe use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Online media and video delivers material in a way that is flexible and often familiar to patients. This new format is beneficial for prospective patients planning to undergo PUVA treatment, health-care providers, and trainees who want to learn more about this treatment.
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA. benjamin.farahnik@med.uvm.edu.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Farahnik
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Psoriasis and Skin Treatment Center, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Mio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Rasnik K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abrouk
authors.affiliation: Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Tian Hao
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Psoriasis and Skin Treatment Center, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Kristina M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Psoriasis and Skin Treatment Center, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Margareth V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Jose
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Psoriasis and Skin Treatment Center, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Renee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: DaLovisio
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Psoriasis and Skin Treatment Center, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Psoriasis and Skin Treatment Center, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bhutani
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Psoriasis and Skin Treatment Center, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Wilson
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liao
keywords: Guide; Oxsoralen®; PUVA; Patient education; Phototherapy; Psoralen; Psoriasis; UVA; Ultraviolet A