Background: Patients with psoriasis of all severities employ topical treatment, either alone or in combination. Promoting Patient Engagement at the Leading Edge of Topical Psoriasis Treatment (PROPEL) surveyed Canadian dermatologists and their patients about their attitudes toward topical care.
Objectives: To identify gaps between patients and dermatologists regarding the burden of psoriasis, the burden of treatment, and priorities for topical care to Canadian patients with psoriasis.
Methods: Two parallel surveys explored patient attitudes toward psoriasis and their experience with topical care, as expressed by patients or as perceived by their dermatologists. A third survey, addressed to patients, included additional questions regarding treatment adherence to current topical treatment regimens.
Results: PROPEL dermatologists underestimated the burden associated with psoriatic itch. Otherwise, they were well aligned with patients' views, including their preference for maintaining topical care of their psoriasis over other treatment modalities, the nature of good psoriasis control, and desirable features of topical medications. Despite holding generally positive views of topical therapy, many patients self-identified as poorly adherent.
Conclusions: Long-term adherence to psoriasis topical care remains a challenge. Formulations with improved acceptability might help patients maintain good adherence.
Keywords: adherence; itch; psoriasis vulgaris; topical care; treatment acceptability.