Psychoemotional State and Knowledge in Psoriasis Patients
Background and Aim. In the modern society, the notion that the patient has to be well informed is highly important. Patients do not only receive information about their diseases, but they are also advised on ways to preserve and strengthen their health. Psoriasis causes multiple psychological problems to patients and their relatives and interferes with their daily life. The aim of the study was to evaluate psoriasis patients’ psycho-emotional state and knowledge about the disease.
Material and Methods: The study included 18-year-old or older patients with psoriasis who were treated at inpatient and outpatient units (n=385). In this study, we assessed their sociodemographic data, knowledge about the disease, body mass index, and disease duration. Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale.
Results. Almost one-half (44.4%) of the test subjects rated their knowledge about the disease as satisfactory. More than one-half (57.4%) of the subjects stated that they received sufficient information about psoriasis in health care institutions. The majority of the subjects (70.1%) learned about their disease from a physician, 48.1% from the Internet, 15.6% in the press, 10.9% from television or radio broadcasts, and 9.1% of the respondents learned about their disease from a nurse. Anxiety and depression were detected in 37.4% and 23.4% of the patients, respectively. Depression was more frequent in the patients aged more than 55 years than in those aged <35 years. Anxiety was more common in women than men, and in the respondents with primary or unfinished secondary education than in those with higher education.
Conclusions. A higher proportion of the patients were aware of the key aspects of the disease, and their knowledge may be classified as satisfactory. The patients with psoriasis, especially women and older people aged more than 55 years, experienced anxiety and symptoms of depression. In this context, patient education about the disease and the avoidance of addictions can improve the management of psychological problems in patients with psoriasis.
Correspondence to R. Petraškienė Department of Nursing and Care, Faculty of Nursing, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eivenių 2, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania. E-mail: renatai.petr@gmail.com