Patients' perspectives towards biologic dose reduction in psoriasis: a qualitative study.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Pharmacoeconomics
• Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

• Biologic therapies are crucial for moderate-to-severe psoriasis management.
• Optimizing biologic use through dose reduction is economically advantageous.
• Limited data exists on patient perspectives regarding biologic dose reduction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore patient views on reducing biologic doses for psoriasis.
• To identify patient-centered factors influencing acceptance of dose reduction.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study design utilizing semi-structured interviews.
• 15 patients with psoriasis participated, representing diverse characteristics.
• Inductive thematic analysis was employed for data interpretation.

Main Results:

• Patients perceived benefits like reduced medication burden, fewer adverse effects, and lower healthcare costs.
• Concerns centered on potential loss of disease control and the need for rapid flare management.
• Preconditions for acceptance included confidence in dose reduction, willingness to adapt treatment, and shared decision-making.

Conclusions:

• Patient involvement in decision-making is crucial for successful biologic dose reduction.
• Addressing concerns about disease control and ensuring rapid access to effective treatments are vital.
• Fulfilling information needs and offering the option to revert to standard doses are important considerations.