Myths, misconceptions and attitudinal trends among patients with acne

Abstract

Background Despite acne being a common dermatological problem, there is a paucity of literature addressing the knowledge, attitude and practice about it. Aims/Objectives To find out what patients know about acne, its cause and treatment, as well as myths, misconceptions and attitude towards it. Methods A cross-sectional, descriptive questionnaire-based study on acne patients at Maharana Bhupal Hospital, RNT Medical College, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. Results Most (84.8%) patients belonged to the age group of 16-25 years. The majority (63.9%) presented 12 months after the onset of acne. More than half had average knowledge, a positive attitude and good practices, related significantly to gender and education. Limitations A standardized questionnaire suitable for all dialects and regional languages would have yielded more uniform results. Conclusion Study revealed that acne patients still need to acquire accurate, adequate and easily accessible information to seek timely and appropriate treatment, and alleviate their psychological suffering.