Dermatology nurses view on factors related to Danish psoriasis patients' adherence to topical drugs: a focus group study.
BACKGROUND
Topical medications are first-line treatment for mild-to-moderate psoriasis, but adherence is low, which negatively affects patients' outcomes and quality of life. Nurses can play a central role in patient care, particularly in improving adherence.


OBJECTIVES
To explore the experience of dermatology nurses with psoriasis patients' adherence to topical drugs.


METHODS
We conducted a semi-structured focus group study with 6 dermatology nurses and 2 dermatology nursing students. Participants were recruited from a dermatology hospital outpatient clinic. Data were analyzed by a systematic text condensation method with a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach.


RESULTS
Nurses experienced that factors such as social inequality, patient-centered nursing, and patients' quality of life can have an influence on adherence.


CONCLUSION
Optimal adherence to topical treatments is a complex exercise and is influenced by many different factors. Involving nurses when prescribing topical treatments may be beneficial since they are one of the most trustworthy professions and have a holistic view on psoriasis severity, patient preferences, health care resources available and socioeconomic factors.
['Svendsen|Mathias Tiedemann|MT|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4317-0873', 'Feldman|Steven R|SR|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0090-6289', 'Tiedemann|Sylvia Naiga|SN|', 'Stochholm Sørensen|Anne Sofie|AS|', 'Rivas|Cecilie Marie Ringgaard|CMR|', 'Andersen|Klaus Ejner|KE|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6181-824X']
D000287:Administration, Topical D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D003718:Denmark D003880:Dermatology D005260:Female D017144:Focus Groups D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009726:Nurses D010349:Patient Compliance D057240:Patient Preference D018802:Patient-Centered Care D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations D011565:Psoriasis D011788:Quality of Life D055815:Young Adult
nurses psoriasis Adherence topical drugs