Abstract
Background: Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that needs continuous medical care. During COVID-19, delivering medical service was negatively affected.
Aims: To describe the impact of COVID-19 on psoriasis healthcare delivery, management, and practice.
Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted on 197 dermatologists using a validated online questionnaire. The survey evaluated the effect of COVID-19 on the decisions, prescription patterns, appointments rescheduling, and healthcare delivery for psoriasis patients by dermatologists. The questionnaire was developed and validated with a reliability score >0.7.
Results: During the pandemic, most dermatologists delayed initiating biological/immunosuppressive therapy for psoriasis unless urgently needed by the patient. For patients already receiving biologics or immunosuppressive treatment, most dermatologists favored continuation of therapy. Almost half (44.2%) of participants do not perform SARS-CoV-2 PCR screening before initiating biologics/immunosuppressive therapy. Dermatologists also reported an increased prescription of topical medications (79.2%), natural sunlight (28.4%), acitretin (26.9%), and home UVB (21.3%). Opinions regarding the use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 treatment/prophylaxis for psoriasis patients were controversial. Intervals between face-to-face follow-up visits were prolonged by 71.6% of dermatologists. More than half of participants reported that their patients discontinued treatment without medical consultation. More than three fourth of responders either agreed or strongly agreed that COVID-19 negatively affected psoriasis patients.
Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has a negative impact on psoriasis management and healthcare delivery. Dermatologists are cautious about using biologics and immunosuppressive drugs during the pandemic, making case-by-case decisions. Psoriasis patients need compliance monitoring, and psychological support during the pandemic, which can be facilitated by teledermatology.
Keywords: PCR; SARS-CoV-2; biologics; coronavirus; immunosuppressive; psoriasis.
【저자키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus, biologics, PCR, immunosuppressive, psoriasis, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, Treatment, pandemic, therapy, reliability, cross-sectional, COVID-19 pandemic, management, healthcare, Patient, Compliance, psychological support, Responder, medication, disease, Care, questionnaire, patients, SARS-CoV-2 PCR, Immunosuppressive treatment, psoriasis, opinion, participant, Follow-up visit, reported, the patient, evaluated, conducted, receiving, facilitated, interval, Dermatologist, immunosuppressive drug, negatively affected, use of hydroxychloroquine, 【제목키워드】 COVID-19, healthcare, cross-sectional survey,