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An estimated 16 million Americans have rosacea, but research shows that many of them do not know the signs or symptoms of rosacea or they wait to seek treatment. Dermatologists can play a key role in patient education, and a better understanding of the patient journey can aid in patient-physician interactions.
In a survey conducted by the National Rosacea Society (NRS), 47% of 1459 respondents reported they had never heard of rosacea prior to receiving their diagnosis and 95% indicated they knew little or nothing about the signs and symptoms of rosacea prior to their diagnosis. Rosacea treatment also is a challenge for patients, with 77% of respondents saying they knew nothing about rosacea treatment prior to being diagnosed, 21% said they knew a little about treatment, and only 2% said they knew a lot. Patient outreach from the NRS has made the term rosacea more widely known, but more education is needed on the common warning signs and symptoms of rosacea so that patients can seek treatment.
In a January 2015 article published in Cutis, Kuo and colleagues presented the patient journey model for rosacea so that dermatologists can have a better understanding of the key issues in rosacea management, including barriers to successful treatment outcomes. Similar to the NRS survey, Kuo et al reported that only a small proportion of patients with rosacea seek conventional medical treatment and symptomatic patients may wait on average 7 months to 5 years before receiving a diagnosis. The delay can be attributed to patients dismissing their symptoms as either acne vulgaris or sunburn or patients thinking their symptoms will resolve. More patients also are turning to over-the-counter products before seeking medical attention, and the difficulty obtaining an appointment with a dermatologist has prompted patients to seek care from a primary care physician or internist, which may lead to misdiagnosis or incorrect treatment.
Kuo et al suggest that treatment of rosacea is multifactorial and behavioral, with patients not only adhering to oral and topical therapies but also avoiding lifestyle and environmental triggers. They recommend an early follow-up visit to evaluate newly prescribed treatments, which can positively influence disease management. Because rosacea is a chronic condition, continuation of treatment is critical.
“As the patient and dermatologist work together to find an appropriate treatment plan, identify certain triggers, and modify the skin care routine, the patient can become disciplined in controlling rosacea symptoms,” the authors report. “Better understanding of the rosacea patient perspective can lead to a more efficient health care system, improved patient care, and better patient satisfaction.”
Access the Cutis article “The Rosacea Patient Journey: A Novel Approach to Conceptualizing Patient Experiences” for more information on the patient perspective so that dermatologists can better aid patients with rosacea.
An estimated 16 million Americans have rosacea, but research shows that many of them do not know the signs or symptoms of rosacea or they wait to seek treatment. Dermatologists can play a key role in patient education, and a better understanding of the patient journey can aid in patient-physician interactions.
In a survey conducted by the National Rosacea Society (NRS), 47% of 1459 respondents reported they had never heard of rosacea prior to receiving their diagnosis and 95% indicated they knew little or nothing about the signs and symptoms of rosacea prior to their diagnosis. Rosacea treatment also is a challenge for patients, with 77% of respondents saying they knew nothing about rosacea treatment prior to being diagnosed, 21% said they knew a little about treatment, and only 2% said they knew a lot. Patient outreach from the NRS has made the term rosacea more widely known, but more education is needed on the common warning signs and symptoms of rosacea so that patients can seek treatment.
In a January 2015 article published in Cutis, Kuo and colleagues presented the patient journey model for rosacea so that dermatologists can have a better understanding of the key issues in rosacea management, including barriers to successful treatment outcomes. Similar to the NRS survey, Kuo et al reported that only a small proportion of patients with rosacea seek conventional medical treatment and symptomatic patients may wait on average 7 months to 5 years before receiving a diagnosis. The delay can be attributed to patients dismissing their symptoms as either acne vulgaris or sunburn or patients thinking their symptoms will resolve. More patients also are turning to over-the-counter products before seeking medical attention, and the difficulty obtaining an appointment with a dermatologist has prompted patients to seek care from a primary care physician or internist, which may lead to misdiagnosis or incorrect treatment.
Kuo et al suggest that treatment of rosacea is multifactorial and behavioral, with patients not only adhering to oral and topical therapies but also avoiding lifestyle and environmental triggers. They recommend an early follow-up visit to evaluate newly prescribed treatments, which can positively influence disease management. Because rosacea is a chronic condition, continuation of treatment is critical.
“As the patient and dermatologist work together to find an appropriate treatment plan, identify certain triggers, and modify the skin care routine, the patient can become disciplined in controlling rosacea symptoms,” the authors report. “Better understanding of the rosacea patient perspective can lead to a more efficient health care system, improved patient care, and better patient satisfaction.”
Access the Cutis article “The Rosacea Patient Journey: A Novel Approach to Conceptualizing Patient Experiences” for more information on the patient perspective so that dermatologists can better aid patients with rosacea.
An estimated 16 million Americans have rosacea, but research shows that many of them do not know the signs or symptoms of rosacea or they wait to seek treatment. Dermatologists can play a key role in patient education, and a better understanding of the patient journey can aid in patient-physician interactions.
In a survey conducted by the National Rosacea Society (NRS), 47% of 1459 respondents reported they had never heard of rosacea prior to receiving their diagnosis and 95% indicated they knew little or nothing about the signs and symptoms of rosacea prior to their diagnosis. Rosacea treatment also is a challenge for patients, with 77% of respondents saying they knew nothing about rosacea treatment prior to being diagnosed, 21% said they knew a little about treatment, and only 2% said they knew a lot. Patient outreach from the NRS has made the term rosacea more widely known, but more education is needed on the common warning signs and symptoms of rosacea so that patients can seek treatment.
In a January 2015 article published in Cutis, Kuo and colleagues presented the patient journey model for rosacea so that dermatologists can have a better understanding of the key issues in rosacea management, including barriers to successful treatment outcomes. Similar to the NRS survey, Kuo et al reported that only a small proportion of patients with rosacea seek conventional medical treatment and symptomatic patients may wait on average 7 months to 5 years before receiving a diagnosis. The delay can be attributed to patients dismissing their symptoms as either acne vulgaris or sunburn or patients thinking their symptoms will resolve. More patients also are turning to over-the-counter products before seeking medical attention, and the difficulty obtaining an appointment with a dermatologist has prompted patients to seek care from a primary care physician or internist, which may lead to misdiagnosis or incorrect treatment.
Kuo et al suggest that treatment of rosacea is multifactorial and behavioral, with patients not only adhering to oral and topical therapies but also avoiding lifestyle and environmental triggers. They recommend an early follow-up visit to evaluate newly prescribed treatments, which can positively influence disease management. Because rosacea is a chronic condition, continuation of treatment is critical.
“As the patient and dermatologist work together to find an appropriate treatment plan, identify certain triggers, and modify the skin care routine, the patient can become disciplined in controlling rosacea symptoms,” the authors report. “Better understanding of the rosacea patient perspective can lead to a more efficient health care system, improved patient care, and better patient satisfaction.”
Access the Cutis article “The Rosacea Patient Journey: A Novel Approach to Conceptualizing Patient Experiences” for more information on the patient perspective so that dermatologists can better aid patients with rosacea.
