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Patients can accurately identify when they have a dermatologic condition
A B Fleischer1, S R Feldman, C N Bullard
1Westwood-Squibb Center for Dermatology Research and the Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
|October 27, 1999
Summary
Patients seeking care for perceived skin conditions are highly likely to have a dermatologic disease. This suggests that self-diagnosis for skin issues often leads to appropriate specialist selection, validating the role of patient perception in healthcare navigation.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Health Services Research
- Patient Navigation
Background:
- The role of primary care physicians as
- gatekeepers
- in specialist referrals is debated, particularly when patients self-identify symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that patients who believe they have a skin condition are correctly diagnosed with a dermatologic disease.
- To evaluate the accuracy of patient self-perception in identifying the need for dermatologic care.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of representative outpatient practice data from the United States.
- Examining the association between patient-reported skin symptoms and confirmed dermatologic diagnoses.
Main Results:
- At least 95% of outpatient visits for skin symptoms result in a dermatologic diagnosis.
- Patients presenting with perceived skin conditions were predominantly diagnosed with actual dermatologic diseases.
Conclusions:
- Patient self-perception of having a skin condition is a reliable indicator of a dermatologic disease.
- This high degree of accuracy supports patients' ability to identify and select the appropriate specialist for their skin concerns.