Correlation Between Nurse-Led Skin Care Education and Patient Adherence to Topical Treatment Regimens in Psoriasis

Abstract

Background: Consistent use of prescribed topical treatments is necessary to properly control psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Non-adherence represents a significant impediment to controlling psoriasis, even with the availability of efficient treatments. Nurse-delivered health education, which provides individualized communication and guidance, is an effective method for promoting adherence.
Aim: This study aimed to determine the correlation between nurse-led skin care education and patient adherence to topical treatment regimens among individuals diagnosed with psoriasis.
Methods: A correlational cross-sectional investigation was performed within the dermatology Department of the LRH Hospital, Peshawar. A convenient sampling design was used to recruit 90 adult patients with psoriasis who had been on topical therapies for at least one month. Participants had to be at least 18 years old, able to speak Urdu, Pashto and not have had past formal dermatology instruction. Data were gathered through a structured questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, nurse-led education evaluations, and an 8-item version of the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. We used SPSS version 25 to analyze the data; this involved both calculating descriptive measures and Pearson's correlation coefficient.
Results: Participants' mean age was 38.6 ± 11.2 years, and slightly more were female (51.1%). Of the patients included, 35.6% reported adhering well, 42.2% reported adhering moderately, and 22.2% reported low adherence. The data showed that overall educational scores were positively correlated with adherence (r = 0.49, p < 0.001), and this relation was strongest for both content simplicity (r = 0.52, p < 0.001) and session frequency (r = 0.46, p = 0.001).
Conclusion: Skillful nurse-provided instruction on psoriasis skin management substantially improves adherence to topical medical products. Implementing education strategies within dermatology care will likely contribute to better patient outcomes.