Disease- and treatment-related expectations, attitudes, and beliefs among adult patients initiating or switching biological therapies for psoriasis

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Documents

  • Fulltext

    Final published version, 278 KB, PDF document

Background: The treatment expectations of patients with psoriasis are essential for clinical outcomes. Objectives: To examine disease- and treatment related intra- and interpersonal factors and their relation to treatment expectations among patients with psoriasis who initiate or switch biological therapy. Methods: Consecutive adult patients with moderate to severe psoriasis who initiated or switched biological therapy completed a questionnaire regarding their disease- and treatment-related expectations. Additionally, they filled out Patients' Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (PABS), Trust in Physician Scale (TPS) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaires. Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) was scored before and 3 months after treatment initiation. Results: A total of 65 patients participated; 28% expected <90% clearance of psoriasis following treatment, whereas 72% expected 90%–100% clearance. No differences were found between bionaïve and non-naïve patients. Mutually adjusted analysis showed that female gender (p = 0.026), higher PASI score (p = 0.004) and lower TPS score (p = 0.006) were associated with high overall expectations towards biological therapy. PABS scores were not significantly associated with high expectations. The proportion of patients having low expectations was greatest when asked about work/education, partner interaction and socializing. Additionally, high expectations towards these subjects were associated with higher DLQI (p = 0.047, p = 0.014 and p = 0.056, respectively). Patients with high overall expectations towards biological therapy had a significantly greater reduction in absolute PASI score following treatment (4.7 vs. 2.75), p = 0.048. Conclusions: Techniques aimed at maximizing patients' expectation-effect (placebo response) should be implemented in daily clinical practice. Knowledge about gender, disease severity, impact on life quality and patients' trust in physician should be taken into consideration.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJEADV Clinical Practice
Volume2
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)973-982
Number of pages10
ISSN2768-6566
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors. JEADV Clinical Practice published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

    Research areas

  • biological therapy, psoriasis, treatment expectations

ID: 382432695