Are Dermatology Clinicians Trained to Deliver Behaviour Change in People With Psoriasis?

Abstract

Background: Psoriasis is associated with risk of cardiovascular disease thus lifestyle behaviour change (LBC) is key to patient management. Healthcare professionals, well placed to support LBC, lack the skills to do so. We examined the extent of training received by specialist and general healthcare staff to manage LBC. Methods: Training documents from UK professional accrediting groups were content analysed to examine: a) health promotion and LBC as part of the professional role; and/or b) health promotion and LBC as explicit training competencies. Findings: References to health promotion and LBC appeared mostly in the General Practitioner (GP) curriculum (n=42), followed by the Dermatology Specialist Nurse curriculum (n=14) and Dermatologist curriculum (n=11). None were found in the GP with a Special Interest in Dermatology curriculum. There was no evidence of clearly specified LBC knowledge, skills and attitudes; only basic level competencies were described. Discussion: Given the evidence linking unhealthy lifestyles with psoriasis outcomes, the training of specialist healthcare professionals should include LBC competencies to support psoriasis patients.