Two thirds of dermatologists ignore the latest psoriasis management guidelines, according to a survey carried out by Janssen and The Psoriasis Association.
The survey, which was published to mark Psoriasis Awareness Week, assessed the use of guidelines produced by health guidance body the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
A year after their publication, the guidelines are still being largely ignored, with 38 per cent of dermatologists continuing to refer to four-year-old guidelines, which lack the latest information and data.
There is concern that dermatologists are failing to fully use the PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) assessment tool provided by NICE. While 86 per cent of those surveyed said they found it useful, a 2012 study of psoriasis patients found that only a third of them had a PASI score.
NICE guidelines also recommend the use of the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) to assess the impact of psoriasis.
According to the survey, 82 per cent of dermatologists find the DLQI useful in monitoring patients’ conditions, yet 87 per cent of patients surveyed in 2012 were unaware of this assessment tool.
“Patients should not be afraid to ask their doctor for PASI and DLQI assessments, to start a conversation about the impact of the condition and to ensure they are receiving the best possible care for their psoriasis,” said Helen McAteer, chief executive of The Psoriasis Association, which collaborated with Janssen on the survey.
Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated condition which affects up to 1.8 million people in the UK. It is associated with multiple physical and psychological burdens, such as depression. Psoriasis Awareness Week 2013 runs from November 1 to November 7.
Janssen’s interest in the area includes the drug Stelara (ustekinumab), which is approved in the EU to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and active psoriatic arthritis.