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Published on: October 3, 2019
Patients' perceptions of the usefulness and outcome of patch testing
Leigh Ann Scalf1, Joseph Genebriera, Mark D P Davis
1Mayo Clinic Contact Dermatitis Group, the Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Background:
Studies have shown the effect of allergic contact dermatitis on quality of life, but few address the impact of patch testing.
Objective:
We sought to determine patient satisfaction with patch testing, patients' perceptions of its usefulness, dermatitis outcomes, and recall of allergens.
Methods:
After patch testing, surveys were mailed to 1453 patients.
Results:
Response rate was 52.1%, 757 surveys returned: 518 women (68.4%) and 239 men (31.6%). More than 75% (578) of respondents were at least "somewhat satisfied" with the process; 51% (388) were "very satisfied." More than half (430, 58.3%) reported improved dermatitis. The 580 patients who had positive reactions remembered a mean of 51.0% of allergens; 198 of these (34.1%) remembered 100%. Of 2547 positive reactions to allergens, 1229 (48.3%) were remembered correctly.
Limitations:
Limitations were reporting bias and individual interpretations of questions.
Conclusion:
Although patients reported both satisfaction with patch testing and improvement in skin conditions, they forgot more than 40% of identified allergens. Techniques are needed to improve patient recall.
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