gms | German Medical Science

19. Deutscher Kongress für Versorgungsforschung

Deutsches Netzwerk Versorgungsforschung e. V.

30.09. - 01.10.2020, digital

Genital psoriasis and intimicy – a person-centered approach inculding patient organizations

Meeting Abstract

  • Maximilian Schielein - Technische Universität München, Fakultät für Medizin, Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie, München, Deutschland; Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Institut für medizinische Informationsverarbeitung, Biometrie und Epidemiologie (IBE), München, Deutschland
  • Linda Tizek - Technische Universität München, Fakultät für Medizin, Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie, München, Deutschland; Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Institut für medizinische Informationsverarbeitung, Biometrie und Epidemiologie (IBE), München, Deutschland
  • Barbara Schuster - Technische Universität München, Fakultät für Medizin, Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie, München, Deutschland; Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Institut für medizinische Informationsverarbeitung, Biometrie und Epidemiologie (IBE), München, Deutschland
  • Stefanie Ziehfreund - Technische Universität München, Fakultät für Medizin, Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie, München, Deutschland
  • Alexander Zink - Technische Universität München, Fakultät für Medizin, Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie, München, Deutschland

19. Deutscher Kongress für Versorgungsforschung (DKVF). sine loco [digital], 30.09.-01.10.2020. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2020. Doc20dkvf272

doi: 10.3205/20dkvf272, urn:nbn:de:0183-20dkvf2727

Veröffentlicht: 25. September 2020

© 2020 Schielein et al.
Dieser Artikel ist ein Open-Access-Artikel und steht unter den Lizenzbedingungen der Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (Namensnennung). Lizenz-Angaben siehe http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.


Gliederung

Text

Background and current state of (inter)national research: Psoriasis is a chronic inflamatory skin disease, affecting 2-3% of the population in Germany. It often accompanies stigmatization which was demanded to be ruced by the World Health Organization (WHO) and currently is targeted in a German national initiative (ECHT/’In meiner Haut’) [1]. Furthermore, individuals affected by genital psoriasis have an increased burden in intimate situations and worse results in terms of quality of life and sexual stress.

Research questions and objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the occurence of genital psoriasis and to determine factors related to avoiding sexual activity due to psoriasis in a non-clinical and patient-centered setting.

Methods or hypothesis: Between March and June 2019, a nationwide online-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in Germany. The survey was promoted on different channels (social media channels, webpages, and newsletters) by patient organizations, including “Psoriasis-Netz,” “Farbenhaut,” and a campaign of the Association of the German Dermatologists (BVDD), “Bitte Berühren”. A multiple logistic regression model was used to analyse the data. In addition, free text responses for reasons of sexual avoidance were provided.

Results: A total of 344 individuals with psoriasis participated in this study. Of these, 198 (57.6%) reported suffering from genital psoriasis and 261 (75.9%) are currently receiving medical care. The duration of psoriasis, subjective overall severity and pain during sex were associated with avoidance of sexual activity. The most commonly stated reasons for the avoidance of sexual activity aquired via free text ansers were “shame”, “pain” and “fear of rejection”.

Discussion: Sexual stress was high in this sample and a people-centred approach could be beneficial for future health care and should further be promoted.

Practical implications: Mental burden of psoriasis is high and additional areas of burden occure when the genital area is affected. However, the prevalence of genital psoriasis seems to be higher when considering affected individuals outside of a medical setting. Therefore, people-centered care and the inclusion of patient organizations might be highly beneficial.


References

1.
Augustin M, Mrowietz U, Luck-Sikorski C, von Kiedrowski R, Schlette S, Radtke MA, John SM, Zink A, Suthakharan N, Sommer R; German ECHT research group. Translating the WHA resolution in a member state: towards a German programme on 'Destigmatization' for individuals with visible chronic skin diseases. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2019 Nov;33(11):2202-2208. DOI: 10.1111/jdv.15682 Externer Link