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Development and Validation of a Novel Questionnaire for Adherence with Topical Treatments in Psoriasis (QATOP)

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Abstract

Background

Self-report measures are the most used methodologies for the evaluation of adherence to psoriasis topical treatment, although currently there is no standard questionnaire for this purpose.

Objective

The present study aimed at developing a novel questionnaire (Questionnaire for Adherence to TOPical treatment [QATOP]) for the assessment of adherence to topical treatment in psoriasis.

Methods

A questionnaire containing nine items organized into two parts (part 1: current patient treatment; part 2: adherence to treatment, amount used, and treatment-associated variables) was developed, supported by a systematic literature review, qualitative patient focus interviews, and expert-group input. Its content validity was determined by a pilot study of six patients. Adherence to topical treatment was then assessed in 35 patients with psoriasis, after 45 days of treatment, using the QATOP and a medication log. Associations between different items of the QATOP and the log were investigated.

Results

Adherence results were 63.5 ± 29.2% for the log and 60.9 ± 24.4% for the QATOP, and were strongly correlated (R = 0.819, p < 0.001). Distinct posologic regimens were reported by patients, which, in some cases, were not the usual doses. Patients also reported using doses of medicine on each application that were markedly lower than required.

Conclusion

The QATOP is a valid and reliable self-report measure of adherence to topical treatment in patients with psoriasis. The use of this standard questionnaire could improve the methodological quality of adherence studies. Improvement of the clarity of posologic instructions is clearly urgently needed.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all patients who participated in this study, the Portuguese Association of Psoriasis (PSOPortugal) for assistance with data collection, and CESPU—Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário for financial support of this study (projects 04-GCQF-CICS-2011N and POSOL-DERM-CESPU-2016). A. Rita Gaio was partially supported by CMUP—Centro de Matemática da Universidade do Porto (UID/MAT/00144/2013), which is funded by FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portugal) with national (MEC—Ministério da Educação e Ciência) and European structural funds through the FEDER—Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional program, under partnership Agreement PT2020.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CESPU, Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde (IINFACTS), Instituto Universitário de Ciências da Saúde, Rua Central de Gandra, 1317, 4585-116 Gandra PRD, Portugal

    Ana Teixeira, Carolina Oliveira, Maribel Teixeira & Vera Almeida

  2. UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Tecnologia Farmacêutica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal

    Ana Teixeira, José Manuel Sousa Lobo, Isabel Filipa Martins de Almeida & Vera Almeida

  3. Departamento de Matemática, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto e Centro de Matemática da Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal

    A. Rita Gaio

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  1. Ana Teixeira
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Correspondence to Isabel Filipa Martins de Almeida.

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Ana Teixeira, Carolina Oliveira, Maribel Teixeira, A. Rita Gaio, José Manuel Sousa Lobo, Isabel Filipa Almeida and Vera Almeida have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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Teixeira, A., Oliveira, C., Teixeira, M. et al. Development and Validation of a Novel Questionnaire for Adherence with Topical Treatments in Psoriasis (QATOP). Am J Clin Dermatol 18, 571–581 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-017-0272-2

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