Psoriasis Uncovered is a series of online surveys designed to
evaluate the life-long impact of psoriasis on a person's emotional
wellbeing, social relationships and economic prospects.
2011
Survey
The second Psoriasis Uncovered survey was
conducted to explore how psoriasis impacts the lives of people
living with the disease. In particular, the survey assessed in
detail the impact that living with psoriasis might have on both
employment and emotional well-being, and the concerns patients with
psoriasis have about others' perception of their
disease.
It was an international internet and paper-based survey consisting
of questions designed to find out about the effect psoriasis can
have on self-esteem, self-confidence, work and career capabilities,
social activities and relationships. The survey questions were
developed in collaboration with two leading experts in psoriasis.
Those completing the survey were asked to choose the most
appropriate response to each question from a 5-point scale
(1=strongly disagree, 5=strongly agree).
Between June 2010 and March 2011, the survey was completed by over
5,000 people with psoriasis from 8 countries, including Europe,
Mexico and the United Arab Emirates.
Here is what the survey told us:
Psoriasis can affect feelings
of self-worth and self-confidence
-
Of those with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, 62% felt that having
the disease had adversely affected their feelings of self-worth and
50% thought that psoriasis had reduced their self-confidence over
time
The lives of people with psoriasis may be affected by others'
perception of the disease
-
Almost one third of all respondents with moderate-to-severe
psoriasis felt that others' perception of psoriasis had affected a
significant decision in their lives
-
47% of those with moderate-to-severe disease, were affected more by
their fear of what others might think about their condition than by
the physical challenges that they face with the disease
-
One third of people living with moderate-to-severe psoriasis said
that they were not interested in what other people thought about
their disease
?
Psoriasis can affect relationships in those
living with the disease
- 20% of all respondents felt
psoriasis put a strain on their relationships with their
spouse/partner
-
40%
of those living with psoriasis felt uncomfortable in intimate
relationships because of their disease
Psoriasis
may reduce a person's ability to work and negatively impacts income
levels
-
Almost one-third of respondents (28%) reported there are often days
when they are not productive in work as a result of
psoriasis
-
Increasing disease severity had a greater impact on a person's
ability to work, with 34% of those with moderate-to-severe
psoriasis reporting that there are oftern days when they are not
productive in work?
-
17% of those with psoriasis felt that their disease had affected
their job choice and that they had not done as well in their career
as they would have liked because of psoriasis
-
13% stated that psoriasis had prevented them from earning as much
money as they felt they could have
Types of healthcare professionals respondents consult about their
psoriasis
-
The majority of those surveyed consulted either their dermatologist
(52%) or family practitioner (37%) about their psoriasis; however
5% of individuals with psoriasis did not consult any healthcare
professional
-
Half of the respondents living with moderate-to-severe psoriasis
usually consult a dermatologist/hospital doctor about their
psoriasis
-
40% of people with moderate-to-severe disease felt that their
healthcare professional was not as informed as they would like
about the emotional impact of psoriasis
The 2011 survey results about treatment
expectations
