LEO Pharma Asia ties up with PsorAsia in psoriasis treatment …

Psoriasis is a little-understood skin condition that carries a strong social stigma through its emotional impact on sufferers that can far outweigh the disease’s physical impact. That is why proper support and guidance from healthcare providers is crucial in achieving optimal treatment adherence, one of the main challenges in psoriasis management.

LEO Pharma, an independent, research-based pharmaceutical company, has developed the PsorCARE programme in collaboration with PsorAsia, an association of Psoriasis organizations in the Asia and Pacific region.

PsorCARE, which stands for “Psoriasis Coach All-Round Education”, was offered to healthcare professionals in Malaysia on 23 June. The programme aims to enhance the counselling skills of healthcare practitioners for optimal patient-healthcare provider relationship leading to better treatment outcomes for those who suffer from the skin condition Psoriasis.

“LEO Pharma is committed to partner with healthcare professional, doctors, nurses and pharmacists in helping psoriasis patients improve their lives and overcome their burden of disease and treatment. We are aware of the challenges that psoriasis patients face and we want them to know that trained support is available. Our ultimate aim is to give these patients hope and empower them with the ability to control their psoriasis conditions and eventually improve their quality of life,” said Mr. Tan Keng Aun, Country Manager of LEO Pharma Malaysia.

“Statistics have shown that there is a significant need to bridge the gap between administering medical treatments and providing patient support. Programmes such as PsorCARE is an essential platform that allows us to share sustainable approaches with healthcare providers to help them address the high prevalence in treatment non-adherence and respond to the patient’s unmet needs,” Josef De Guzman, President, PsorAsia.

 Many patients require a deeper and better understanding of the disease and the treatment options, which can be achieved with improved access to information through healthcare professionals. With professional counselling readily available, patients have the necessary support to better manage both the physical and psychological toll from living with Psoriasis.

For patients who require long-term therapy for Psoriasis, treatment adherence – whether it be medicinal, behavioural, lifestyle or a combination of treatments – is essential for achieving optimal outcomes.

In Malaysia, 60% of psoriasis patients do not adhere to their treatments. Extensive market research has identified that adherence is founded on good communication and a positive relationship between the patient and healthcare practitioners. This applies in particular to nurses who are in regular contact with patients.

Treatment adherence has been shown to be poor for many Psoriasis patients. It is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “the extent to which a person’s behaviour – taking medication, following a diet, and/or executing lifestyle changes, corresponds with agreed recommendations from a health care provider”. Psoriasis patients find it challenging to adhere to their treatment modality because the application of their medicine requires discipline and patience, and this impacts their lifestyle. More significantly, the lack of apparent results dampens their morale which in turn affects negatively, the follow-through with recommended treatment.

“Caring for patients with chronic skin diseases such as psoriasis is not only a science but an art which requires continuous support by a dedicated counsellor. Nurses best equipped with the necessary knowledge would ensure better outcomes in the management of psoriasis by improving patient adherence to topical treatments which are the mainstay of management of majority of patients,” said Dr Najeeb Mohd Safdar, President of Dermatological Society.

With the objective of improving patient adherence for optimal outcome in the treatment of psoriasis, PsorCARE is a peer-based training platform that teaches trainees how to achieve a balance between asking, listening, and informing when communicating with patients about the living and overcoming the burden of their disease. The programme also enables trainees to translate theoretical approaches to practical implementation.

The session on 23 June  was led by aBarbara Page, Dermatology Liaison Nurse Specialist, Queen Margaret Hospital. Approximately 10 major local hospitals will participated in the training session.

“Aside from adhering to medical treatments, psoriasis patients also face physical and emotional challenges in their daily lives and it is important for us, as healthcare providers, to recognize these challenges and provide them with the much needed support. With the PsorCARE program, I am pleased to have the opportunity to share my experiences with other healthcare providers in Malaysia to help enhance our capabilities to further benefit these patients,” said Page.

 

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Category: Features, Pharmaceuticals