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Self-management experiences in adults with mild-moderate psoriasis: an exploratory study and implications for improved support

Self-management experiences in adults with mild-moderate psoriasis: an exploratory study and implications for improved support
Self-management experiences in adults with mild-moderate psoriasis: an exploratory study and implications for improved support
Background: psoriasis is a long-term condition affecting 2-3% of the population. The mainstay of treatment for mild-moderate disease is the regular application of topical medication by the individual. At present little is known about how people with psoriasis self-manage and how they may best be supported in this endeavour.

Objectives: to explore how adults with mild-moderate psoriasis manage their condition and to identify strategies that can support people to self-manage effectively.

Methods: a qualitative investigation using six focus groups to collect data from purposively sampled participants, managed in the community (n=22).

Results: thematic data analysis generated three categories that offer new insights into how people currently manage their condition, their low expectations of health services and how self-management may be better supported. People with mild-moderate psoriasis do not always achieve what they perceive to be optimal self-management. They often do not use topical therapy systematically and frequently abandon it if rapid improvements are not seen. Factors which participants identified as likely to improve self-management included the provision of individualised education directed towards improving effective adherence techniques by medical and non-medical personnel who have practical experience in topical application of psoriatic therapies.

Conclusions: people with mild-moderate psoriasis continue to find self-management problematic; however, they can identify strategies that could enable them to become more effective in self-managing. There is a need to incorporate these strategies in "self- management plans" in order to support individuals to self-manage as effectively as possible to help improve their skin condition and quality of life
0007-0963
1044-1049
Ersser, S.J.
fa62ecc7-216c-48cd-be93-22a52b669e75
Cowdell, F.C.
562c5428-7ad7-4a80-9d27-ec49a09701f9
Latter, S.M.
83f100a4-95ec-4f2e-99a5-186095de2f3b
Healy, E.
400fc04d-f81a-474a-ae25-7ff894be0ebd
Ersser, S.J.
fa62ecc7-216c-48cd-be93-22a52b669e75
Cowdell, F.C.
562c5428-7ad7-4a80-9d27-ec49a09701f9
Latter, S.M.
83f100a4-95ec-4f2e-99a5-186095de2f3b
Healy, E.
400fc04d-f81a-474a-ae25-7ff894be0ebd

Ersser, S.J., Cowdell, F.C., Latter, S.M. and Healy, E. (2010) Self-management experiences in adults with mild-moderate psoriasis: an exploratory study and implications for improved support. British Journal of Dermatology, 163 (5), 1044-1049. (doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2010.09916.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background: psoriasis is a long-term condition affecting 2-3% of the population. The mainstay of treatment for mild-moderate disease is the regular application of topical medication by the individual. At present little is known about how people with psoriasis self-manage and how they may best be supported in this endeavour.

Objectives: to explore how adults with mild-moderate psoriasis manage their condition and to identify strategies that can support people to self-manage effectively.

Methods: a qualitative investigation using six focus groups to collect data from purposively sampled participants, managed in the community (n=22).

Results: thematic data analysis generated three categories that offer new insights into how people currently manage their condition, their low expectations of health services and how self-management may be better supported. People with mild-moderate psoriasis do not always achieve what they perceive to be optimal self-management. They often do not use topical therapy systematically and frequently abandon it if rapid improvements are not seen. Factors which participants identified as likely to improve self-management included the provision of individualised education directed towards improving effective adherence techniques by medical and non-medical personnel who have practical experience in topical application of psoriatic therapies.

Conclusions: people with mild-moderate psoriasis continue to find self-management problematic; however, they can identify strategies that could enable them to become more effective in self-managing. There is a need to incorporate these strategies in "self- management plans" in order to support individuals to self-manage as effectively as possible to help improve their skin condition and quality of life

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More information

Published date: November 2010

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 160559
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/160559
ISSN: 0007-0963
PURE UUID: 877ebfcb-b00d-4ca7-85fb-075cc5329309
ORCID for S.M. Latter: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-0973-0512

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Date deposited: 16 Jul 2010 08:49
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:44

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Contributors

Author: S.J. Ersser
Author: F.C. Cowdell
Author: S.M. Latter ORCID iD
Author: E. Healy

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