Jerry Tan1, Marc P Frey2, Sanja Knezevic3, Yves Poulin4, Charles W Lynde5, Wayne P Gulliver6, Aditya K Gupta7, Rolf J Sebaldt8, David R Thomas9, Sheetal Sapra10. 1. Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada jerrytan@bellnet.ca. 2. Department of Psychology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada. 3. Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada. 4. Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu de Québec and Centre de Recherche Dermatologique du Québec métropolitain, Quebec City, QC, Canada. 5. Lynde Dermatology, Markham, ON, Canada. 6. Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NF, Canada. 7. Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. 8. Department of Medicine and Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada. 9. Department of Dermatology and Skin Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. 10. Institute of Cosmetic and Laser Surgery, Oakville, ON, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acne treatment recommendations for individual patients may be derived from multiple factors including dermatologist- and patient-reported constructs. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of dermatologist- and patient-reported measures on acne treatment recommendations by dermatologists. METHODS: An observational cross-sectional survey of acne patients was conducted with patient-reported quality of life and dermatologist-reported measures of primary and secondary (scar) acne severity using 3 assessment approaches: maximal regional grade, total grade, and facial grade. RESULTS: The most highly associated factors with acne treatment recommendations were patient emotions, maximal regional acne severity, and total acne scar grade. Better acne-specific quality of life was negatively related to acne treatment recommendation intensity, while all 3 grading approaches were positively related to acne treatment recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: For dermatologists, overall acne severity is most highly associated with maximal regional acne grade, total scar grade, and patient's emotional response to acne.
BACKGROUND: Acne treatment recommendations for individual patients may be derived from multiple factors including dermatologist- and patient-reported constructs. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of dermatologist- and patient-reported measures on acne treatment recommendations by dermatologists. METHODS: An observational cross-sectional survey of acne patients was conducted with patient-reported quality of life and dermatologist-reported measures of primary and secondary (scar) acne severity using 3 assessment approaches: maximal regional grade, total grade, and facial grade. RESULTS: The most highly associated factors with acne treatment recommendations were patient emotions, maximal regional acne severity, and total acne scar grade. Better acne-specific quality of life was negatively related to acne treatment recommendation intensity, while all 3 grading approaches were positively related to acne treatment recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: For dermatologists, overall acne severity is most highly associated with maximal regional acne grade, total scar grade, and patient's emotional response to acne.