The effect of self-management education on the quality of life and severity of the disease in patients with psoriasis: A clinical trial

The quality of life (QOL) in patients with psoriasis is low. Also, the self-management program as one of the useful methods for patient education helps with the management of chronic diseases.
Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of the self-management education on the QOL and the severity of the disease in patients with psoriasis.
This non-randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted with 99 patients hospitalized in a dermatology ward in a hospital in an urban area of Iran in 2016. They were selected using a convenient sampling method and randomly assigned into the intervention (n=50) and control groups (n=49). While the patients in the control group received routine care and education, those in the intervention group received self-management education consisting of three sessions of group education lasting between 20 and 30 minutes, discussions, educational booklet and telephone follow up one, two and three months after discharge from the hospital. Data was collected using the demographic data form, the dermatology life quality index, and psoriasis area and severity index.
Findings: There were statistically significant differences between the intervention and control groups in terms of changes in the severity of psoriasis and QOL before and 3 months after the self-management education. Accordingly, the reduction of the severity of psoriasis and improvement of QOL after the self-management education was higher than the control group.
Nursing staff can use the self-management program as a low-cost approach along with the routine care for improving the QOL in patients with psoriasis.