Adherence in the Treatment of Psoriasis: A Systematic Review

Background: Medication adherence and compliance are essential for disease management and can significantly improve outcomes and quality of patient care. The literature suggests that up to 40% of patients do not use their medication as intended. Objective: To elucidate current knowledge on adherence/compliance in psoriasis. In particular, methods of adherence/compliance evaluation and influencing factors were to be identified. Methods: Systematic literature review based on a protocol-rooted search in online databases, followed by a structured critical appraisal and consecutive descriptive report. Results: Thirty-five original publications on adherence/compliance in psoriasis were identified, addressing the extent and quality of adherence/compliance in topical, systemic and UV treatments. Estimates of compliance varied considerably between 27 and 97%. Age, sex, psychosocial, disease-specific and treatment-specific factors were identified as predictors of adherence/compliance. Conclusion: A better understanding of the determinants of adherence can improve the outcomes of psoriasis treatment and lead to higher patient satisfaction and quality of care. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel