Improving hidradenitis suppurativa patient education using written action plan: a randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Patient Education
• Clinical Trial Research

Background:

• Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) presents management challenges due to its variable nature and treatment responses.
• Effective patient education is crucial for managing chronic inflammatory skin conditions like HS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a HS-written action plan (HSWAP) combined with verbal consultation (VC) on patient disease understanding and management confidence.
• To assess patient preference for different educational modalities in HS management.

Main Methods:

• Pilot cross-over randomized controlled trial involving two groups: VC-only and VC + HSWAP.
• Participants were randomized, with the control group later crossing over to receive the HSWAP intervention.
• Patient comprehension and confidence were assessed via surveys post-intervention.

Main Results:

• High patient comprehension of disease and management was observed with both VC and HSWAP.
• The majority of patients expressed a preference for receiving both VC and HSWAP.
• The addition of HSWAP significantly increased understanding and confidence in disease management for the pre-crossover control group.

Conclusions:

• HS-written action plans (HSWAP) are effective tools for enhancing patient understanding and confidence in managing Hidradenitis Suppurativa.
• A combined approach of verbal consultation and a written action plan is preferred by patients and improves self-management capabilities.