Implementing well‐being in the management of psoriasis: An expert recommendation

Abstract

Psoriasis causes detriment in a person's physical, mental and social health which impairs their quality of life (QoL). However, the current psoriasis management may not adequately address all relevant health domains.Since the goal of healthcare is to restore or maintain health, health outcomes should include all areas of the patient's overall health. Life‐satisfaction, QoL and patient wellbeing are essential to a comprehensive approach to the disease. With the inclusion of more people‐centred policies, care of patients with psoriasis should evolve toward a holistic and integrated assessment of the disease impact, including subjective measures of wellbeing in order to encompass all aspects of health.The main objective of this expert review is to give the concept of wellbeing a place as an entity within the holistic therapeutic approach for patients with psoriasis. Identifying and defining common goals beyond the skin with the patient and testing them throughout the course of treatment will benefit and enhance treatment success. We propose a series of recommendations for application in clinical practice, providing tangible clinical guidance for implementing wellbeing in the management of psoriasis. Among the recommendations are the need to initially listen to the patient, to know their level of empowerment or what they want to achieve, their preferences in decision making, the evaluation of not only the physical but also the emotional impact of the disease (wellbeing), the definition of the aspects that can generate a cumulative deterioration of the disease throughout life, and a continuous assessment of the patient's preferences with the opinion of the expert clinician and the integration of the knowledge of external clinical evidence.

Defining well-being in psoriasis: A Delphi consensus among healthcare professionals and patients

“…Therefore, the impact of the disease extends beyond its symptoms and signs 14 and may result in stigmatisation and limitations in social and occupational functioning 15 . The concept of well-being encompasses all areas of life that may be affected by the disease 16 , including aspects that are not usually included in QoL 17 , which tends to focus on three dimensions, physical, mental, social and general health perception 18 .…”