Dermatologica Sinica (Jan 2020)

Personal experience and knowledge about psoriasis reduce misconceptions and discriminatory behavior toward people living with psoriasis in Malaysia

  • Shin Shen Yong,
  • Leng Leng Tan,
  • Chin Chwen Ch'ng,
  • Fariz Yahya,
  • Say Lee Pok,
  • Pei Ying Ch'ng,
  • Wee Meng Ong,
  • Kelvin Shenq Woei Siew,
  • Irdina Aminuddin,
  • Lay Sim Ong,
  • Audrey Ying Shin Lee,
  • Lina Yusrina Iskandar Zulkarnain,
  • Nurul Hazirah Mohd Hanafiah,
  • Dina Suraya Mustafa Rawther,
  • Jia Jie Chong,
  • Li Sean Saw,
  • Maw Pin Tan,
  • Zhenli Kwan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/ds.ds_27_19
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 38, no. 1
pp. 35 – 38

Abstract

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Stigmatization and social anxiety affecting people living with psoriasis have been associated with poorer quality of life and psychological comorbidities. We conducted a survey among 164 individuals to evaluate misconceptions, discriminatory behavior, and prejudices toward people with psoriasis. At least one misconception was recorded in 64.6% (n = 106) of respondents. About 86.0% (n = 141) reported one or more discriminatory practices and 73.2% (n = 120) reported one or more prejudices. Misconceptions toward psoriasis were associated with an increase in likelihood of prejudicial attitudes. This is influenced by age and education. Future studies should explore whether educating the existing population can reduce prejudice.

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