Translating psoriasis guidelines into practice: Important gaps revealed

Background: There is a well-established lack of adherence to evidence-based clinical guidelines. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) developed educational sessions entitled Translating Evidence into Practice based on the published guidelines for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: We sought to determine the effectiveness of Translating Evidence into Practice sessions in improving patient care.

Methods: Pre- and post-session surveys were administered at Translating Evidence into Practice sessions. A follow-up was administered 6 months after completion of the most recent session, which was 2.5 years after the first session.

Results: At both post-session and follow-up, more than 92% of participants believed the sessions had improved their knowledge. The proportion of participants that self-reported assessing disease severity, comorbidities, and quality of life increased at follow-up. Participants' self-reported counseling of patients and confidence in treating psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis also increased at post-session and follow-up. Greater than 97% of participants thought the sessions would have a positive impact on their practice whereas 50% reported making a change in practice.

Limitations: Lack of a control group, the self-reported nature of the data, and potential participant bias are limitations.

Conclusion: The AAD's Translating Evidence into Practice sessions are effective and well received for improving knowledge and practice and can be useful to determine self-reported practice gaps.