Patients dissatisfied with acne management approaches, find GPs lacking information
MONDAY, May 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Patients frequently report ineffective consultations in acne care, according to a study published online April 26 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
Fiona Cowdell, D.Prof., from the University of Hull in the United Kingdom, and colleagues conducted a survey to examine acne research priorities from several perspectives. To gather qualitative data, there was a free text question relating to respondents’ general acne experiences; 178 respondents with acne submitted free text responses.
The researchers found that ineffective consultations were frequently reported in patient responses to the free text question. These were categorized into two themes: not taking care of the emotional side, which was subdivided into ignoring the psychological and emotional impact of acne and insensitive interactions; and hopelessness at finding a treatment that works, which was further divided into lack of information on effective use of treatments, absence of clear care pathways, and ignoring certain treatments (such as laser, diet, and alternative treatments). Overall, patients were dissatisfied with acne management approaches by health care professionals, general practitioners were perceived as lacking essential information, and dermatologists were found to show insufficient concern for the emotional side of acne.
“There is a need to develop a clear, systematic guideline for acne treatment that is understood by both people with acne and practitioners, as are already in use with other conditions, such as asthma,” the authors write.
One author disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical and dermatological industries.
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