There are those who are disheartened because the treatments do not work, those who no longer go to control themselves because they are afraid of becoming infected with Covid and those who, on the other hand, would like to but cannot because the clinics operate at a reduced rate due to the pandemic. Thus, psoriasis sufferers are not cured and the symptoms worsen. Just to stem this risk, he starts again PsoPoint, the digital platform that helps psoriasis patients to maintain an active dialogue with the specialist. From April to December, through the website www.impattoinvisibile.it, interested citizens will have the opportunity to remotely get in touch with dermatologists associated with the Association of Italian hospital dermatologists-venereologists (Adoi) and with the Italian Society of Medical and Surgical Dermatology. , aesthetics and sexually transmitted diseases (Sidemast).
The distrust of patients
The moderate-severe form of psoriasis extends to a large part of the body and affects about 10% of the more than 2.5 million people living with this disease in Italy. Despite its prevalence, however, it is often under-diagnosed. The complexity and chronic nature of this disease make the relationship and contact with the specialist essential, but more than one in two patients with more than 20% of the body affected by psoriasis, declares that they are not being treated by a dermatologist because they are discouraged. “Psoriasis is an extremely heterogeneous disease from a clinical point of view and can manifest itself in different forms and severities. In the most severe forms it can be associated with other pathologies such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypercholesterolemia, obesity and moreover, it is often associated with a set of disorders of the psychic sphere, ‘invisible’ – he says Ketty Peris, president Sidemast and Uoc director of Dermatology Catholic University A. Gemelli University Polyclinic Foundation, Irccs Rome ”.
Psoriasis, the inflammatory disease that goes beyond the skin
by Irma D’Aria
And, in fact, depression, anxiety and stress are the ‘invisible side’ of psoriasis. The psychological burden of the disease, with the baggage of shame, stigma and social isolation, negatively affects the quality of life and care of patients. “Due to the sense of shame and inadequacy, the patient isolates himself, closes himself in the house with a negative effect on the quality of life and a worsening of the psoriasis itself – underlines Mara Maccarone, President Adipso – in addition to information, it is essential to be able to contact a specialist immediately because it means getting treated first. In this sense, the PsoPoint platform has actively contributed to putting patients in contact with specialists in the area. A first step to help the hesitant and suspicious patient, who thinks that the disease cannot be treated, to speak to a specialist and if necessary be directed to a reference center for psoriasis “.
The impact of Covid
The health emergency from Covid-19 has made the management of the disease even more difficult, depriving many patients in treatment of contact with their specialist. “Patients with psoriasis have had to make many sacrifices, sometimes giving up checks and dialogue with the dermatologist. We could say that the PsoPoint initiative has come at the right time and we are proud of the achievements achieved last year – he says Francesco Cusano, president of Adoi and director of UOC of Dermatology, San Pio hospital hospital Gaetano Rummo di Benevento – PsoPoint has put dialogue, hope, information and trust back into circulation and patients have no longer felt abandoned to themselves and has allowed to establish contact, albeit remotely, between patients and dermatologists “.
Psoriasis, closer to the patient with a graphic novel and video consultations with dermatologists
The PsoPoint program was created as part of the ‘Visible Psoriasis’ campaign. Invisible impact – Let’s look beyond appearances’, promoted by Amgen together with the Association for the Defense of Psoriasis (Adipso), Adoi and Sidemast to redefine the perception of the disease and strengthen the doctor-patient alliance. Interested patients will be able to access the platform from all over Italy through the website www.impattoinvisibile.it and carry out a “telematic triage” by answering a short anonymous questionnaire. If identified by the system as eligible for contact with the dermatologist, the patient will be redirected to the portal dedicated to the consultation and will be able to choose the day of the appointment. THE 12 appointments PsoPoint will take place from 9.00 to 13.00 and from 14.00 to 18.00 starting from April 14th with two monthly dates until December 10th.
The dermatologist, through an online video-consultation, will answer doubts and questions, will provide information on the pathology, any indications on the paths, advising, if necessary, to go to a center specialized in the treatment of psoriasis in their region. On the website www.impattoinvisibile.it, patients can also find information on the pathology, its psychological impact, the map of specialist centers, therapeutic opportunities together with resources to improve dialogue with the specialist, effectively communicate the relevant aspects of the pathology and maximize the time of visits.
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