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Dermatologists: Patients did not perform intended post-visit care
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ATLANTA — A majority of dermatologists in an online survey reported that some of their patients had not performed post-visit care intended by the physician, according to a poster presentation at the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery’s annual meeting.
“We noticed amongst our patients that often they would have questions after their encounter, maybe about their diagnoses … or what to do,” researcher Susan J. Huang, MD, resident in dermatology at Harvard Medical School, told Healio.com. “It really pointed out the need for patient education.”
Researchers evaluated an online survey completed by 16 dermatologists, who were asked:
- What percentage of the time were patients provided with written information about the diagnoses?
- What percentage of the time were patients provided with written information about the procedures?
- What percentage of the time were patients provided with written information about post-visit care instructions?
- Did patients return having performed incorrect post-visit care (eg, performed wound care incorrectly, taken prescribed medication incorrectly)?
- If the previous question was answered “yes,” did the dermatologist believe incorrect post-visit care could have been prevented with detailed post-care instruction?
Regarding diagnoses, 31% of the dermatologists said they provided written information 75% of the time; 38% responded that they provided written information less than 25% of the time. For procedures, 33% said they provided written information more than 75% of the time, and 33% said they provided written information less than 25% of the time.
Having patients perform incorrect post-visit care, including taking medication or performing wound care incorrectly was reported by 80% of the dermatologists. Fifty-eight percent of those dermatologists reported that they believe detailed, written post-care instructions could have achieved compliance.
“What it really points out … is there is variability as to what we as dermatologists do to educate our patients,” Huang said. “Arguably, it’s a very important part to the patients’ care.”