Article
Destigmatization of people with skin diseases in body care professions – a study protocol
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Authors
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Juliane Traxler
- Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Institut für Versorgungsforschung in der Dermatologie und bei Pflegeberufen (IVDP), Hamburg, Deutschland
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Matthias Augustin
- Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Institut für Versorgungsforschung in der Dermatologie und bei Pflegeberufen (IVDP), Hamburg, Deutschland
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Marius Grosser
- Deutscher Psoriasis Bund e.V., Hamburg, Deutschland
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Rachel Sommer
- Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Institut für Versorgungsforschung in der Dermatologie und bei Pflegeberufen (IVDP), Hamburg, Deutschland
| Published: | September 30, 2022 |
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Outline
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Background and status of (inter)national research: The psychosocial burden for persons with visible chronic skin diseases is high. A particular problem is stigmatization by others, including deprecating looks, negative comments, and exclusion. The experience of stigma and even the mere expectation of being stigmatized drives many patients to avoid social interactions, causing impairments in different life domains and, thus, loss of quality of life. In 2014, the World Health Assembly (WHA), therefore, called their member states to action against stigma in psoriasis.
In order to reduce stigmatizing attitudes in the public, a multidisciplinary group developed a face-to-face intervention (“ECHT”) consisting of various components known to tackle stigma in other health conditions: self-experience, education, and a patient encounter. This intervention supported by the German Ministry of Health (BMG) showed promising effects when administered to medical students and educators in training, namely less agreement to negative stereotypes and to disease-related false assumptions, and a significantly reduced desire for social distance from people with psoriasis.
Apart from education and medical settings, a survey identified body care provision as another critical context: Patients frequently report feelings of stigma and rejection when visiting hairdressers, cosmeticians, podiatrists, and physiotherapists/occupational therapists. Consequently, it is important to extend the newly developed intervention to this target group.
Research question and objective: The objective of this intervention project is to adapt the anti-stigma intervention to professions in the body care area and test its feasibility and effectiveness.
Method or hypothesis: Body care professionals (n=120) will be randomized to take part in one of two seminars: the intervention group will receive a modified version of the “ECHT” intervention whereas the control group will receive information about how to take care of their own health at work. Participants will answer questionnaires to measure their stigmatising attitudes towards visible skin diseases before and after the seminar, and at 3 months follow-up.
Discussion: The results of this project will provide urgently needed new insights into destigmatising visible chronic skin diseases in the body care sector – a context that many patients struggle with in daily life. We expect the intervention to significantly improve the psychosocial health prevention for people with skin diseases and to advance people-centred health care in dermatology.
Practical implications: Disseminating this intervention broadly a may reduce stigma and sensitize the public to the challenges and needs of persons living with a chronic skin disease.
Appeal for practice (science and/or care) in one sentence: This study will deliver a structured short intervention that increases awareness and acceptance of skin diseases in the public, which can be used in many countries and can be adapted to other target groups.
Funding: Sonstige Förderung; Beiersdorf AG
