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General practitioners' attitudes towards acne management: Psychological morbidity and the need for collaboration
Munther Zureigat1, Karen Fildes2, Athena Hammond3
1MBBS, FRACGP, Illawarra and South Practice Research Network, University of Wollongong, NSW.
Method:
A qualitative descriptive study collected data via telephone interviews with 20 purposively sampled GPs working in New South Wales. A thematic analysis guided by the study objectives was undertaken.
Results:
The participating GPs had divergent management approaches to acne treatment, infrequently provided acne patients with written resources, and would value additional dermatological support. Furthermore, the GPs recognised psychosocial ramifications and patient distress as drivers for treatment and expedited referral to dermatologists.
Discussion:
Avenues for improved patient outcomes include explicit attention to psychological morbidity beyond treatment of the acne itself and improved use of patient educational materials, along with consistent collaboration between GPs and dermatologists.