Journal of Clinical & Experimental Dermatology Research
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9554
+44 1478 350008
ISSN: 2155-9554
+44 1478 350008
Ujjwala Kulkarni, Yashashrii Shetty, Atul Dongre, Uday Khopkar and Nirmala Rege
Seth G.S. Medical College & King Edward Memorial Hospital, India
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Clin Exp Dermatol Res
BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder with no cure. Very few studies have been published to reflect the impact of established pharmacotherapy on psoriasis patients, perception as well as satisfaction with the treatment in India. METHODS: The present study intended to find out the quality of life of chronic plaque psoriasis patients, using psoriasis disability index (PDI) and to find out the patient satisfaction towards the given pharmacotherapy, using a pre-validated structured patient satisfaction questionnaire. The study was initiated in the Department of Dermatology after taking a permission from the Institutional Ethics Committee, for a period of one and a half years. Patients (n=72) were enrolled after taking a written informed consent. Demographic data were collected. Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) scores were calculated to grade the clinical severity of psoriasis in the patients. Two different questionnaires viz., Psoriasis disability index (PDI) to evaluate the quality of life and a pre-validated and structured patient satisfaction questionnaire (PSQ) to evaluate the satisfaction of the patients towards the given treatment were used. RESULTS: 50% of the psoriatic patients on treatment showed overall satisfaction towards the given treatment. 24% wanted a change in their current therapy. The correlations of PDI with PASI and PSQ with PASI were analysed by Spearman rank test. The PASI is moderately correlated with daily activity (r=0.43, p<0.0001), personal relation (r=0.47, p<0.001), leisure (r=0.44, p<0.0001) and weakly correlated with treatment (0.22, 0.02). The total PDI and PASI scores are strongly correlated with each other (r=0.76, p<0.0001). The PSQ did not show any correlation with PDI and PASI. CONCLUSION: 50% patients remained dissatisfied with the treatment as their quality of life did not improve. Therefore, psoriasis should be treated with a holistic and integrative approach by the physician along with frequent patient counselling. PSQ showed no correlation with PASI and PDI scores which indicates that PDI may not have reflected the true quality of life as the component of treatment satisfaction is weak. Therefore, to assess the quality of life in patients with psoriasis, a combined scale needs to be developed integrating PDI and patient satisfaction scores. The doctor-patient relationship influences patientsatisfaction and therefore needs to be nurtured to improve the quality of life.
Ujjwala Kulkarni is currently pursuing her PhD in reputed medical school in Mumbai. She has completed Master in Pharmacology from Baroda Medical College affiliated to M.S. University, Gujarat. She has worked as a Lecturer in Department of Pharmacology for 7 years and taught basic pharmacology to undergraduate medical student. She also got GSMC Regional Fellowship in Foundation of Advance Instruction in Medical Education and Research (FAIMER Fellowship) for innovative project in medical education. She also has an experience in BA/BE study. She published 7 papers in reputed journals.
Email: ujjwala.ujjwala.kulkarni@gmail.com writeumk@gmail.com