title: The Lived Experience of Psoriasis Patients from Social Stigma and Rejection: A Qualitative Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psoriasis is a common, chronic skin disease that causes challenges such as stigma and labeling from both the community and individuals due to its effects on appearance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to describe and explain the social stigma and rejection experienced by patients with psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present research is a qualitative study with a hermeneutic phenomenological approach conducted among psoriasis patients referring to the dermatology clinic and ward of Imam Khomeini hospital in Ahvaz, Iran between June and December 2014. In this study, 15 patients with psoriasis were selected by purposeful sampling, and they were asked to express their experience of stigma and rejection. The data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews, and Diekelmann and colleagues' method was used for data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After analysis of interviews, four themes were extracted: lack of social support, unrealistic and inappropriate labeling, rejection and isolation, and feeling of absurdity and futility. These can be indicative of the patients' experience from social stigma and rejection phenomena.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients' experiences of stigma and rejection phenomena indicated that all aspects of their lives are affected. Moreover, these findings highlight the significance of stigma and rejection concepts in providing better care to these patients.
authors.affiliation: Nursing Care Research Center in Chronic Disease, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghorbanibirgani
authors.affiliation: PhD, Associate Professor of Nursing Department, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences (USWR), Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fallahi-Khoshknab
authors.affiliation: Nursing Care Research Center in Chronic Disease, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Kourosh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zarea
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery School, Khorasgan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khorasgan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Heidarali
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abedi
keywords: Psoriasis; Qualitative Research; Rejection; Stigma