Latine Patients' Beliefs, Attitudes, and Experience With Psoriasis

Abstract

Importance: In the US, Latine patients disproportionately experience severe psoriasis, limited access to care, and poor disease-related quality of life. However, little is known about psoriasis in this growing US population.

Objectives: To explore Latine patients' perception of their illness and their attitudes toward and experiences with the health care system, treatment, and research.

Design, setting, and participants: In this qualitative study, a thematic analysis was performed of in-depth, semistructured interviews of 30 Latine adults with moderate to severe psoriasis at an outpatient dermatology clinic in an urban safety-net hospital. All patients included had psoriasis diagnosed by a dermatologist and were defined as having moderate to severe psoriasis if systemic treatment was offered at any time during their disease course. Interviews were held between July 7 and August 3, 2022. Data saturation was used to determine sample size.

Main outcomes and measures: Interviews were conducted in English or Spanish, audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and translated. Transcripts were then coded through an iterative process, and themes were identified through thematic analysis.

Results: Among 30 participants included, the mean (SD) age was 50 (11) years, 20 (67%) were male, and 22 (73%) preferred Spanish. Among 15 participants who disclosed their country of origin or ancestry, 7 (23%) were from Mexico; 4 (13%), Guatemala; 2 (7%), El Salvador; 1 (3%), Honduras; 1 (3%), Nicaragua; and 1 (3%), Peru. Six interrelated themes describing participant experiences were identified: (1) illness perception of psoriasis, (2) reliance on sociofamilial connections for medical decision-making, (3) impact of psoriasis on work life, (4) barriers to accessing quality dermatologic care, (5) receptiveness to prescription and nonprescription treatments, and (6) positive perception and interest toward research.

Conclusions and relevance: The findings of this study highlight the impact of psoriasis on Latine individuals, the efforts made by this population to overcome health disparities, their positive perception toward biologic medications, and their interest in participating in biomedical research. Future investigations should assess educational interventions and further explore the preferences of Latine patients toward biologic medications and biomedical research.