Positive changes in self-management and disease severity following climate therapy in people with psoriasis

TY - JOUR

T1 - Positive changes in self-management and disease severity following climate therapy in people with psoriasis

AU - Wahl, Astrid K.

AU - Langeland, Eva

AU - Larsen, Marie H.

AU - Robinson, Hilde S.

AU - Osborne, Richard H.

AU - Krogstad, Anne Lene

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of climate therapy on self-management in people with psoriasis. This was a prospective study of 254 adults with chronic psoriasis who participated in a 3-week climate therapy (CT) programme. The 8-scale Health Education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ) was completed at baseline, after 3 weeks of CT, and 3 months later. Change was assessed using paired sample t-tests mean (95% confidence interval) change scores (range 1–4). All heiQ scales showed statistically significant improvement after 3 weeks of CT. The greatest improvement was in Health-directed activity, followed by Emotional distress, and Skill and technique acquisition. At the 3-month follow-up, only the Emotional distress scale remained improved. In addition, disease severity (self-administered PASI; SAPASI) improved significantly from before CT to 3 weeks and 3 months after CT. This study suggests that CT provides a range of benefits that are important to people with psoriasis, particularly in the short term. A challenge is how to achieve long-term benefits.

AB - The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of climate therapy on self-management in people with psoriasis. This was a prospective study of 254 adults with chronic psoriasis who participated in a 3-week climate therapy (CT) programme. The 8-scale Health Education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ) was completed at baseline, after 3 weeks of CT, and 3 months later. Change was assessed using paired sample t-tests mean (95% confidence interval) change scores (range 1–4). All heiQ scales showed statistically significant improvement after 3 weeks of CT. The greatest improvement was in Health-directed activity, followed by Emotional distress, and Skill and technique acquisition. At the 3-month follow-up, only the Emotional distress scale remained improved. In addition, disease severity (self-administered PASI; SAPASI) improved significantly from before CT to 3 weeks and 3 months after CT. This study suggests that CT provides a range of benefits that are important to people with psoriasis, particularly in the short term. A challenge is how to achieve long-term benefits.

KW - Climate therapy

KW - Disease severity

KW - Psoriasis

KW - Self-management

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84922783642&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.2340/00015555-1939

DO - 10.2340/00015555-1939

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 25110924

AN - SCOPUS:84922783642

SN - 0001-5555

VL - 95

SP - 317

EP - 321

JO - Acta Dermato-Venereologica

JF - Acta Dermato-Venereologica

IS - 3

ER -