Assessment of the perceived burden associated with Malignant Melanoma with Pictorial Representation of Illness and Self Measure (PRISM) and Melanoma Concerns Questionnaire (MCQ-28)

Abstract

Purpose The impact of malignant melanoma (MM) on patients’ psychophysical well-being has been poorly addressed. We aimed to assess the perceived burden in patients with a diagnosis of MM, using two different tools, one generic and one specific for MM, such as Pictorial Representation of Illness and Self Measure (PRISM) and Melanoma Concerns Questionnaire (MCQ-28), respectively. The correlation between PRISM and MCQ-28 subscales and the relevance of disease and patient-related variables were also investigated. Methods This single-centre, cross-sectional study included all adult consecutive MM patients who attended our Dermatology Unit from December 2020 to June 2021. Demographics and disease-related data were recorded. PRISM and MCQ-28 were administered. Results One hundred and seventy-one patients were included (mean age: 59.5 ±14.9 years.; 48.0% males). Median time from MM diagnosis to inclusion was 36 months. Nearly 80% of the patients had in situ or stage I MM. Overall, 22.2% of the patients reported a PRISM score <100mm and similar percentages provided scores indicating impaired quality of life, as assessed with MCQ-28 subscales. A weak, albeit significant, correlation was found between PRISM scores and ACP, CON and SOC2 subscales. The most relevant association found was that between lower PRISM scores and higher-stage MM. Conclusions In the study population, mostly affected with superficial MM, their perception of the burden associated with MM did not appear either particularly dramatic or disabling. PRISM seems a reliable system for capturing and quantifying the domains correlated with the emotive dimension of MM, especially MM-related concerns and willingness to face life

Suffering and Quality of Life Impairment in Patients with Eczematous Diseases: Results from an Observational Study Assessing the Relevance of the Involvement of Two Sensitive Body Sites, Namely, the Face and Hands

“…However, our results can be compared with data regarding other dermatological and non-dermatological conditions. In general terms and taking into account the methodological differences among the available studies, median PRISM score resulted higher in our patients in comparison to those with chronic urticaria [17], psoriasis [18], chronic inflammatory vulvar diseases [20], melanoma [21], and liver transplantation [26]. On the contrary, QoL impairment was stronger in chronic cutaneous ulcers [19], hidradenitis suppurativa [23], and liver cirrhosis [26].…”

“…This may be bypassed by using nonverbal instruments, such as Pictorial Representation of Illness and Self Measure (PRISM). This represents a valid tool in defining the impact of issues whose verbalization can determine feelings of shame and embarrassment and has been validated in both dermatological [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] and non-dermatological disorders [24][25][26][27][28] even concerning the effectiveness of therapy [29,30].…”