British Journal of Dermatology (1991) 125, 340-342.
Level of knowledge and information sources used by patients with psoriasis S.W.LANIGAN AND ALISON LAYTON* Department of Dermatology. Bridgend General Hospital. Bridgeiid 'Department
of Dermatology, The General Infirmary. Leeds
Accepted for publication 1 6 May 1991
Summary
One-hundred and eight patients with psoriasis completed a questionnaire concerning their knowledge about the condition. This was carried out at two departments of dermatology, at Bridgend General Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary. There were no significant differences between the two centres, and the main source of the patients' information about psoriasis was from a dermatologist, hut several other sources such as newsletters were of help.
Despite the advances in therapy, psoriasis continues to be a chronic disease and it is of importance that patients are educated about the condition.' Knowledge of the nature of psoriasis does allow patients to participate more in the treatment and control of their disease and also to avoid aggravating factors. A greater awareness of the nature of their disease may reduce anxiety and stress which are also known to aggravate psoriasis." The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge by patients about psoriasis and to determine the source of their information.
Methods A questionnaire was designed to assess the factual knowledge of patients about psoriasis. This was similar to one used in a previous study^ and was adapted for British patients. The questionnaire consisted of 22 statements requiring a true, false or uncertain response and concerned the basic knowledge on the presentation of psoriasis, its aetiology and information that may be of self-help. The patients were asked to indicate the source of their information that enabled them to complete the questionnaire. Demographic information concerning the patients, including duration of their psoriasis, family history and previous hospitalization were also included in the questionnaire. Over a 4-month period, all the out-patients with psoriasis over the age of 16 years that were seen by us in the departments of dermatology at Bridgend General Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary were asked to Correspondence; Dr S.W.Lanigan. Department of Dermatology. Bridgend General Hospital. Bridgend. Mid Glamorgan CF31 lJP. U.K.
340
complete the questionnaire. New and follow-up patients were entered into the study and none of the patients received more than one questionnaire. It was decided not to include a control group of non-psoriatics, because in a previous study^ these demonstrated such a low level of knowledge about the condition that it provided no useful information. The patients were required to answer all the questions and were specifically asked not to guess but to mark as uncertain those that they did not know the answer to. However, they were asked to guess the percentage of patients in the United Kingdom that were affected by psoriasis. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student's t-test on parametric data and Wilcoxon rank-sum test on non-parametric data.
Results None of the patients refused to answer the questionnaire, although not all were completed. There were no significant differences between the patients at the two centres (Table 1) but an assessment of social class was not possible, as many were retired, disabled or they were housewives who did not indicate their husband's occupation. The responses to the questionnaire are shown in Table 2. The statements appearing on the questionnaire and the patients' responses are shown in the Appendix. Thirty-eight patients from Bridgend and 55 from Leeds also estimated the percentage of the population that were affected by psoriasis (Table 3). One-hundred and three patients volunteered the
INFORMATION SOURCES USED BY PSORIATIC PATIENTS
Table 1. Details of patients
Discussion
Bridgend clinic
Leeds clinic
« = 47 M:29, F:18 Mean age (range) 51-5 (19-82) years Mean duration psoriasis 2 4 1 (1-53) years No. with family history 19 No. admitted 25 No. never seen a dermatologist before 3
n = 61 M:39. F:22 Mean age (range) 44 2 (15-78) years Mean duration psoriasis 15 3 (1-47) years No. with family history 27 No. admitted 20 No. never seen a dermatologist before 2
Table 2. Responses to questionnaire
Mean correct (range) Mean incorrect (range) Mean unanswered (range)
Bridgend
Leeds
13-4 (6-22) 2-5 (0-9) 6-3 (0-15)
13 3 (6-21) 2-4 (0-7) 6-1 (0-15)
Table 3. Estimates of percentage of population affected by psoriasis
No. responding Mean % estimate (range) No. estimating 1-7%
Bridgend
Leeds
38/47 22 (1-99) 8/47
55/61 19 (1-75)
14/61
Table 4. Information sources used by patients
Source Dermatologist Physician/GP TV/Newspapers Psoriasis newsletters Family members Others'
341
No. (% total)
First choice
89 (86) 73(71) 38(36) 37(35) 33(31) 44 (42)
78 14 7 5 2 0
* Others: friends 11. nurses 8. 'Singing Detective' 4.
sources of information used to complete the questionnaire (Table 4). Those patients in Leeds who quoted psoriatic newsletters as a source of information scored significantly higher correct answers than those that did not (P
Level of knowledge and information sources used by patients with psoriasis S.W.LANIGAN AND ALISON LAYTON* Department of Dermatology. Bridgend General Hospital. Bridgeiid 'Department
of Dermatology, The General Infirmary. Leeds
Accepted for publication 1 6 May 1991
Summary
One-hundred and eight patients with psoriasis completed a questionnaire concerning their knowledge about the condition. This was carried out at two departments of dermatology, at Bridgend General Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary. There were no significant differences between the two centres, and the main source of the patients' information about psoriasis was from a dermatologist, hut several other sources such as newsletters were of help.
Despite the advances in therapy, psoriasis continues to be a chronic disease and it is of importance that patients are educated about the condition.' Knowledge of the nature of psoriasis does allow patients to participate more in the treatment and control of their disease and also to avoid aggravating factors. A greater awareness of the nature of their disease may reduce anxiety and stress which are also known to aggravate psoriasis." The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge by patients about psoriasis and to determine the source of their information.
Methods A questionnaire was designed to assess the factual knowledge of patients about psoriasis. This was similar to one used in a previous study^ and was adapted for British patients. The questionnaire consisted of 22 statements requiring a true, false or uncertain response and concerned the basic knowledge on the presentation of psoriasis, its aetiology and information that may be of self-help. The patients were asked to indicate the source of their information that enabled them to complete the questionnaire. Demographic information concerning the patients, including duration of their psoriasis, family history and previous hospitalization were also included in the questionnaire. Over a 4-month period, all the out-patients with psoriasis over the age of 16 years that were seen by us in the departments of dermatology at Bridgend General Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary were asked to Correspondence; Dr S.W.Lanigan. Department of Dermatology. Bridgend General Hospital. Bridgend. Mid Glamorgan CF31 lJP. U.K.
340
complete the questionnaire. New and follow-up patients were entered into the study and none of the patients received more than one questionnaire. It was decided not to include a control group of non-psoriatics, because in a previous study^ these demonstrated such a low level of knowledge about the condition that it provided no useful information. The patients were required to answer all the questions and were specifically asked not to guess but to mark as uncertain those that they did not know the answer to. However, they were asked to guess the percentage of patients in the United Kingdom that were affected by psoriasis. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student's t-test on parametric data and Wilcoxon rank-sum test on non-parametric data.
Results None of the patients refused to answer the questionnaire, although not all were completed. There were no significant differences between the patients at the two centres (Table 1) but an assessment of social class was not possible, as many were retired, disabled or they were housewives who did not indicate their husband's occupation. The responses to the questionnaire are shown in Table 2. The statements appearing on the questionnaire and the patients' responses are shown in the Appendix. Thirty-eight patients from Bridgend and 55 from Leeds also estimated the percentage of the population that were affected by psoriasis (Table 3). One-hundred and three patients volunteered the
INFORMATION SOURCES USED BY PSORIATIC PATIENTS
Table 1. Details of patients
Discussion
Bridgend clinic
Leeds clinic
« = 47 M:29, F:18 Mean age (range) 51-5 (19-82) years Mean duration psoriasis 2 4 1 (1-53) years No. with family history 19 No. admitted 25 No. never seen a dermatologist before 3
n = 61 M:39. F:22 Mean age (range) 44 2 (15-78) years Mean duration psoriasis 15 3 (1-47) years No. with family history 27 No. admitted 20 No. never seen a dermatologist before 2
Table 2. Responses to questionnaire
Mean correct (range) Mean incorrect (range) Mean unanswered (range)
Bridgend
Leeds
13-4 (6-22) 2-5 (0-9) 6-3 (0-15)
13 3 (6-21) 2-4 (0-7) 6-1 (0-15)
Table 3. Estimates of percentage of population affected by psoriasis
No. responding Mean % estimate (range) No. estimating 1-7%
Bridgend
Leeds
38/47 22 (1-99) 8/47
55/61 19 (1-75)
14/61
Table 4. Information sources used by patients
Source Dermatologist Physician/GP TV/Newspapers Psoriasis newsletters Family members Others'
341
No. (% total)
First choice
89 (86) 73(71) 38(36) 37(35) 33(31) 44 (42)
78 14 7 5 2 0
* Others: friends 11. nurses 8. 'Singing Detective' 4.
sources of information used to complete the questionnaire (Table 4). Those patients in Leeds who quoted psoriatic newsletters as a source of information scored significantly higher correct answers than those that did not (P
