How do disease perception, treatment features, and dermatologist–patient relationship impact on patients assuming topical treatment? An Italian survey

Figures & data

Figure 1 Patients’ distribution by time from diagnosis to survey.

Figure 2 Results to the question “How would you define psoriasis?”

Figure 3 Answers to the question “How do you define your psoriasis?” a stratified for patients affected in the face, in other visible areas (arms, nails, hands), and patients not affected in visible areas.

Note: ^aPatients in which psoriasis involves the arms and/or the nails and/or the hands, but not the face.

Figure 4 Results to the question “Indicate the level of discomfort that you feel by having psoriasis in each of these areas.”

Note: Rating on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 means no discomfort and 10 extreme discomfort.

Figure 5 Results of the question “What kind of treatment are you currently taking?”

Abbreviation: UVB, ultraviolet B.

Table 1 Treatments used, stratified for patients affected in the face, in other visible areas (arms, nails, hands), and patients not affected in visible areas

Treatments	Face (%)	Visible areasa (%)	No visible areas (%)
Topical	43.2	55.6	60.5
Biological	29.5	18.2	10.5
Topical + systemic	14.4	14.9	13.2
Phototherapy/UVB	10.8	12.7	7.9
Systemic	8.6	5.8	6.6
No therapy	0.0	1.1	1.3
Other	0.7	1.5	0.0
Not specified	6.5	3.3	2.6
Total number of patients	139	275	76

Note:

a Patients in whom psoriasis involves the arms and/or the nails and/or the hands, but not the face. The Total number of patients was 490 (5 patients did not respond to the question about the area affected).

Abbreviation: UVB, ultraviolet B.

Figure 6 Patients that always carry a topical product for use whenever needed, stratified for patients affected in the face, in other visible areas (arms, nails, hands), and patients not affected in visible areas.

Note: ^aPatients in which psoriasis involves the arms and/or the nails and/or the hands, but not the face.

Figure 7 Results to the question “Choose your favorite formulation for local use from the following” and for patients choosing “Cream” to the question “Indicate reasons for your choice.”

Notes: Patients could choose more than 1 item.

Table 2 Answers to the question “Thinking about various reasons that has led to discontinuing a topical treatment, indicating the weight of each reason listed”

Item	Average rating
Lack of results within the expected time frame	3.8
Inconvenience of therapy (daily application for long period)	3.7
Discovery of a better product	3.7
The fear of being subjected for a long period to a product potentially dangerous to my health	3.6
Excessive cost of the product	3.2
Unpleasantness of the product (its smell, its texture)	3
Unconvinced attitude of the dermatologist who prescribed it to me	2.5

Note: Rating on a scale from 1 to 5.

Table 3 Answers to the question “Do you follow the recommendations given by your dermatologist as regards the use of topical therapy?” stratified for patients affected in the face, patients affected in other visible areas (arms, nails, hands), and patients not affected in visible areas

	Face (%)	Visible areasa (%)	No visible areas (%)
Closely	40.3	37.5	28.9
Enough	48.2	48	50
Little	7.2	10.2	14.5
In no way	2.2	0.4	2.6
Total number of patients	139	275	76

Note:

a Patients in whom psoriasis involves the arms and/or the nails and/or the hands, but not the face. The Total number of patients was 490 (5 patients did not respond to the question about the area affected).

Figure 8 Results to the question “How soon after initiation of therapy do you expect to see results?”

Figure 9 Results to the question “Which feature of local products do you think are the most appreciated?”

Note: Patients could choose a maximum of two qualities.

Figure 10 Results to the question “Which effects of local products do you think are the most unpleasant?”

Note: Patients could choose a maximum of two qualities.