RESUMEN
Existing scoring systems for facial acne focus on the lesions themselves, but clinical decisions are based on a general assessment of severity, including the time since onset, the site(s) of involvement, the patient's history, and the response to prior treatments. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of some of these factors on the global assessment of acne severity. Involvement of the trunk, prior systemic treatment and a positive family history of acne increased the severity score. Inclusion of these factors could help to compose more homogeneous groups for clinical trials.
Asunto(s)
Acné Vulgar/epidemiología , Humanos , Pronóstico , Índice de Severidad de la EnfermedadRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Acne is a disorder in which adherence has a major impact on treatment outcome. OBJECTIVE: To create an easy-to-use tool to assess treatment adherence, based on a questionnaire that can be used on a daily basis by dermatologists. METHODS: First, we evaluated adherence by comparing responses to a self-administered questionnaire with the dermatologist's prescription. Second, concordance was assessed between adherence and each question of a dermatologist-directed questionnaire (DDQ) administered during the consultation. Third, DDQ questions were combined to construct a mini-questionnaire, and these combinations were tested to maximize specificity. RESULTS: The study included 246 patients, who were prescribed topical treatment alone, combined treatment (excluding oral isotretinoin) or oral isotretinoin alone. The mini-questionnaires for oral and topical treatments had 89% specificity for detecting poor adherence. An inappropriate answer to one question classified the patient as a probable poor compliance. CONCLUSIONS: Our mini-questionnaires provide dermatologists with specific tools to rapidly identify poor compliance.
Asunto(s)
Acné Vulgar/tratamiento farmacológico , Fármacos Dermatológicos/administración & dosificación , Isotretinoína/administración & dosificación , Cumplimiento de la Medicación , Encuestas y Cuestionarios/normas , Administración Cutánea , Adolescente , Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Prescripciones , Calidad de Vida , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Acne can have important psychological repercussions. OBJECTIVES: We studied adolescents' perceptions of acne, in a nonmedical context. METHODS: Between November 2004 and January 2005, a questionnaire was presented to adolescents calling a youth helpline. It focused on perceptions of acne and, among callers with personal experience of acne, its severity and treatment. Callers were divided into those with acne, those having had acne and those never having had acne. RESULTS: The questionnaire was completed by 1,566 callers. It showed that 51% of respondents with acne did not seek medical help; acne has as big a psychological impact as some far severer diseases; many respondents with no history of acne said they were very worried that they would develop this skin disorder. CONCLUSIONS: This study underlines the major psychological impact of acne. Young people need to be informed that acne can be treated.
Asunto(s)
Acné Vulgar/psicología , Actitud Frente a la Salud , Calidad de Vida , Acné Vulgar/epidemiología , Acné Vulgar/patología , Adolescente , Adulto , Niño , Femenino , Estudios de Seguimiento , Francia/epidemiología , Humanos , Masculino , Visita a Consultorio Médico/estadística & datos numéricos , Prevalencia , Estudios Retrospectivos , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , Distribución por Sexo , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
Acne is the most frequent reason for seeing a dermatologist, but its physiopathology is not completely well-known. Yet understanding of the mechanisms of action of the different acne treatments is very important to optimize their use. A lot of new data on the physiopathology have recently been published in the acne field. This paper summarizes the main points of these new facts.