Psoriasis healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic: a survey among psoriasis patients (PsoCovidCare).

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, psoriasis care underwent significant changes in consultation methods and treatment management. However, comprehensive data on these changes and patient perceptions are limited.

Aims: To evaluate the pandemic's implications on psoriasis patients, focusing on access to information, consultation methods, patient satisfaction, disease control assessment, and treatment management changes.

Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional survey was performed in psoriasis patients from 4 dutch hospitals during the second wave of the pandemic.

Results: Among 551 respondents, approximately 55% received information their treatment in relation to COVID-19 from their treating physician, while 16.3% sought information online. Consultation methods were shifted to remote formats for 43.6% of patients, primarily phone and the shift was often initiated by physicians. Overall patient satisfaction during the pandemic scored high (8.0), with remote consultations scoring between 8.0-9.0. Patients on biological treatment reported better disease control (8.0), compared to those on topical (6.0) or conventional systemic treatments (7.0). However, within the systemic treatment group and biologics group, a notable percentage interrupted (16.3% resp. 12.9%) or discontinued treatment (14.1 resp. 10.6%) during the pandemic. Disease control was moderate-to-good assessed by 75% of patients receiving face-to-face and 68% receiving remote consultations.

Conclusion: Remote care appears to be a viable alternative to face-to-face consultations, with potential benefits in enhancing access to information provided by treating physicians.