Satisfaction with medical treatment in patients with hand dermatitis - a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the significant clinical and economic burden of hand dermatitis, data on patients' satisfaction with treatment and related determining factors are lacking. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study using a standardized survey, including all patients with hand dermatitis treated between 12/2001 and 11/2008 at the Department of Dermatology, TU Dresden. Patients were asked about socio-demographic data, disease characteristics, occupational data, quality of life, treatment satisfaction and their treatment goals. Based on an a priori model, possible impact factors on treatment satisfaction were analyzed using regression modeling. RESULTS: Of 382 contacted patients, 215 agreed to participate in the study (133 [61.3%] female). The mean age was 42 years. 155 patients (72.1%) had had severe or very severe hand dermatitis in the past. The majority of the patients were satisfied with the medical treatment. Treatment satisfaction was determined by the impression of professional competence (p < 0.001), physicians' empathy (p < 0.001), sufficient information on course, prognosis, and treatment options (p < 0.001), the patients' self-treatment competency (p < 0.001), quality of life (p = 0.007), as well as on the severity of hand dermatitis (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The data point out that in the therapy of chronic hand dermatitis, along with professional competence, the physicians' empathy, provision of sufficient information about the disease, and teaching self-treatment competency play a prominent role in improving the treatment satisfaction of the patients.