Documenting Patient Data in Psoriasis Clinical Practice-Patient Focus Groups Supporting Psoriasis Experts' Decision-making.

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesThis article presents patients' attitudes about documenting patient data and outcome measures in psoriasis clinical practice to support a Delphi approach of psoriasis experts to develop a standard data set. PATIENTS AND

methodsWe conducted three focus groups with 14 patients in a German outpatient unit for psoriasis. The focus was to explore reasons for and against the documentation of single variables concerning personal, anamnesis, clinical, patient-reported outcomes, and other data.

resultsThe patients mainly discussed if a variable has an impact on the disease or treatment decision, or if there might be a practical value from experiences with treatments when documented. In addition, in their point of view, patient-reported outcome data are important to document as it enables physicians to learn about a patient's subjective burden of disease. Patient education and the involvement of other physicians in the treatment process also emerged as relevant aspects.

conclusionThe results help to understand patients' preferences on documenting patient data and their idea of an exhaustive doctor-patient consultation to improve doctor-patient communication, disease monitoring, and quality of care.