Abstract
BackgroundPsoriasis is a multifactorial inflammatory disease prevalent in dermatology. We aimed to understand the perceptions of patients living with psoriasis in relation to their quality of life and to identify aspects to improve it.MethodsThis is qualitative research carried out in a dermatology outpatient clinic of the São Paulo State University (UNESP) medical school, Botucatu, Brazil, with 81 psoriasis patients. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using the Discourse of the Collective Subject method (DCS).ResultsQuality of life was linked to well-being, happiness, leisure, good food and financial stability. However, disease symptoms, social and clothing restrictions, impairment of professional activities and the absence of a cure, negatively influenced their perceptions. Suggestions for improvements included an increase of public awareness, stress reduction, disease acceptance and multidisciplinary care.ConclusionThe meanings of quality of life revealed by the participants are subjective, multidimensional, linked to moments experienced by them and to the health-disease process. Public health policies promoting reduction in social stigma and stress as well as multidisciplinary approaches towards care can contribute to improvements of QoL in psoriasis.
Highlights
Psoriasis is a multifactorial inflammatory disease prevalent in dermatology
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis characterized by the appearance of erythematous-desquamative, symmetric plaques with white-silver desquamation, which may present extracutaneous manifestations, such as arthritis and uveitis [1]
The research was conducted with patients with psoriasis at a dermatology outpatient clinic of the São Paulo State University (UNESP) medical school, Botucatu, Brazil
Summary
Psoriasis is a multifactorial inflammatory disease prevalent in dermatology. We aimed to understand the perceptions of patients living with psoriasis in relation to their quality of life and to identify aspects to improve it. The perception of quality of life is Meneguin et al BMC Dermatology (2020) 20:22 considered a critical measure in dermatology [9]. In this sense, quality of life evaluation has become an indicator used to guide health care practices and help in the definition of strategies of public policies, since the determinants and constraints of the health-disease process are multifactorial and complex
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