Physician Satisfaction with Current Psoriasis Treatment: A Real-World Study in the USA

Abstract

Background

Dermatologists may provide a unique perspective on psoriasis management by offering an evaluation of satisfaction with disease control.

Objectives

To examine physician satisfaction with psoriasis control.

Methods

Data were extracted from the Adelphi 2011/2013 Psoriasis Disease Specific Programmes, two real-world U.S. surveys of dermatologists. For individual patients, physicians reported treatment history, disease severity, symptom severity for itching, pain and scaling, and their satisfaction level (satisfied vs. dissatisfied).

Results

Dermatologists were dissatisfied with disease control for 28.6% of patients. When physicians were dissatisfied, patients were more likely to currently have moderate (66% vs. 33%) or severe (20% vs. 2%) psoriasis compared to patients with satisfied physicians (p<0.05). Patients with dissatisfied physicians were also more likely to currently have more severe pain, itching and scaling, and were less likely to be receiving a biologic therapy (all p<0.05).

Conclusion

Dermatologists were dissatisfied with the control achieved for more than one-quarter of their psoriasis patients.