Speaker
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease. It can have a significant impact on patients’ quality of life, affecting their physical, psychological, and social well-beings. Disease severity and psoriasis-related disability may affect daily activity and overall functioning, while self-care practices play an important role in improving disease management and patients’ outcomes.
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program on disease severity, disability, and self-care practices among patients with psoriasis.
Methods: This quasi-experimental, one-group pretest-posttest intervention study was conducted among 68 patients with psoriasis who attended the Center of Dermatology and Venereology/ Medial City/Baghdad. Data were collected using a study questionnaire, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), self-care practices, and Psoriasis Disability Index (PDI).
Results: Significant improvement was observed in all study outcomes. Disease severity significantly decreased, reflected by a reduction in the PASI scores from 3.00 (1.85 – 7.00) to 2.00 (1.00 – 3.90). Self-care practices improved, as evidenced by an increase in total self-care score from 38.00 (32.25 – 43.75) to 51.50 (47.00 – 54.75), and a decrease in PDI score from 5.50 (3.00 – 9.75) to 2.00 (1.00 – 3.00).
Conclusion: Patients with psoriasis had a positive response to the educational intervention, which led to significant improvement in self-care practices as well as reduction in the severity and disability associated with psoriasis.
Keywords: PASI score, patient education, PDI score
