The Spanish Psoriasis Patients' Association According to Its Members: Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study of Members' Opinions of the Association's Functions

• Published in: Actas dermo-sifiliográficas (English ed.) 2016-11, Vol.107 (9), p.751-757
• Main Authors: González-de Paz, L, Ribera, M, Gratacós-Masmitjà, J, Ros, S, Blanch Mur, C, Alfonso-Zamora, S
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; spa
• ISSN: 1578-2190
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ad.2016.06.003

INTRODUCTIONPatient associations form part of health care systems, but little is known about how their members' view the functionality of these associations and whether they endorse their goals and activities.OBJECTIVETo study how the members of the leading Spanish association of patients with psoriasis and their relatives view the group's functioning.MATERIAL AND METHODSSurvey study using a self-administered questionnaire answered by members of the association (total membership, 26 349 persons). The credibility of the association and respondents' confidence in and satisfaction with it were studied and compared with their attitudes toward other agents in the health care system. A Rasch model was used to analyze respondents' ranking of functions. Analysis of variance was used to study between-group differences.RESULTSA total of 746 members participated (response rate 2.83%). The association's credibility was rated in second place, after that of specialists who treat psoriasis. Support for the association functions was good (7.53 on a scale of 0 to 10). The function the members rated highest was the raising of societal awareness of psoriasis and its problems. Rated lowest were functions related to personal services for members. Educational level was the only participant factor associated with significant differences in evaluations (P