From the Guidelines
Patient education is crucial in the management of psoriasis, and it should involve discussing the etiology, potential comorbidities, treatment options, and lifestyle choices to facilitate patient-engaged, comprehensive care and enhance quality of life (QoL) 1. When educating patients with psoriasis, it is essential to create a therapeutic alliance that empowers them and enhances their satisfaction and compliance with treatment plans. This can be achieved through various educational tools, including verbal discussions, pamphlets, and trusted internet resources, such as the National Psoriasis Foundation (www.psoriasis.org) and the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations (www.IFPA-pso.org) 1. Some key aspects to cover in patient education include:
- The importance of understanding the risks, benefits, and alternatives of each treatment modality
- Involving patients in shared decision-making to determine their preferences regarding their treatment plan
- Repetition of key concepts during follow-up visits to allow consolidation and integration of knowledge
- Lifestyle modifications, such as stress management, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol, avoiding smoking, and identifying personal triggers
- The importance of treatment adherence, even when symptoms improve, and regular follow-up appointments to monitor disease progression and treatment effectiveness 1. By prioritizing patient education and involving patients in their care, healthcare providers can enhance patient outcomes, improve QoL, and reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with psoriasis 1.
From the Research
Psoriasis Patient Education
- Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that can cause significant impairment of quality of life, absenteeism at work, and significant psychological distress, justifying the need for patient education 2.
- A therapeutic education program for psoriasis patients was developed, consisting of two individual sessions and three group sessions, with themes including understanding the disease, understanding the mechanism of onset of disease and treatments available, and how to live with psoriasis in everyday life 2.
- The program was tailored to patient language and knowledge based on feedback from participating patients, and the list of skills may be adapted to patient's individual needs 2.
- Patient education may improve adherence and coping, and interventions that include an individual (one-to-one) session appear to be successful 3.
- There is a need for health education among patients with psoriasis, with knowledge gaps occurring most frequently in factors activating the process of the disease and methods of prophylactics in psoriasis 4.
Key Components of Psoriasis Patient Education
- Understanding the disease and its impact on quality of life 2, 3.
- Understanding the mechanism of onset of disease and treatments available, including topical therapies, phototherapy, and systemic agents 2, 5.
- Learning how to live with psoriasis in everyday life, including self-care methods and prophylactics 2, 4.
- Adapting to individual patient needs and preferences 2, 3.