Adherence To Acne Medication And Its Relation To Acne Severity And Quality Of Life
- Author:
Tan CL
;
Yang SS
;
Toh MPH
;
Aw DC
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Acne vulgaris;
adherence;
severity;
quality of life;
Asia
- From:Malaysian Journal of Dermatology
2015;34(-):11-16
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background: Acne vulgaris is a chronic condition which commonly affects adolescents and exerts a
psychological burden on its sufferers. Non-adherence to acne treatment is believed to be a major factor
contributing to treatment failure. In this study, we characterize the profile of a non-adherent Asian
acne patient, and evaluate the relationship between treatment adherence and acne severity and quality
of life.
Methods: A total of 53 acne patients were recruited from the Dermatology outpatient clinic of National
University Hospital, Singapore, and followed up over a 3 month period in this prospective observational
study. The Elaboration d’un outil d’evaluation de l’observance (ECOB) adherence assessment tool
was used to assess adherence to acne treatment, and acne severity was evaluated using the US Food
and Drug Administration Center 5-point Acne Severity Score (ASS).
Results: Of the 53 study participants, 29 (54.7%) were non-adherent to acne treatment. There was
no significant difference in gender, educational level or acne severity at time of presentation between
adherent and non-adherent patients. Adherent patients had a significantly larger improvement in acne
severity scores compared to non-adherent patients (change in ASS: -1.33 ± 0.64 vs -0.76 ± 0.83, p =
0.008), but this did not translate to a significant improvement in quality of life.
Conclusion: Adherence to acne treatment was not associated with demographic characteristics or
acne severity. Factors contributing to adherence to acne treatment are complex and multi-faceted, and
individualized motivation and education of each patient may be the method of choice in encouraging
treatment adherence.
