Illness Perception Regarding Early-stage Mycosis Fungoides among Dermatologists: A Multi-centre Cross-sectional Study

Oz Segal*, Gil Goldzweig, Iris Shapiro Bratt, Sharon Baum, Anna Lyakhovitsky, Aviv Barzilai

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Early-stage mycosis fungoides is a rare cutaneous T-cell lymphoma with a good prognosis. Data regarding patients’ illness perception of mycosis fungoides are accumulating. However, investigating the derma-tologists’ viewpoint is also essential, as it shapes the therapeutic relationship and doctor–patient communi-cation. The aim of this study was to investigate the aspects of dermatologists’ illness perception towards early-stage mycosis fungoides and the way they pre-sent it to patients. Twenty-five dermatology residents and 55 attending physicians from all Israeli dermatology departments and the community completed the study questionnaires online. Dermatologists viewed mycosis fungoides as a chronic disease, causing a moderate emotional burden. In contrast to previously published data regarding patients’ illness perception, dermatologists demonstrated dominancy in the notion that patients were able to control their disease. Most dermatologists thought that patients perceived mycosis fungoides as an indolent lymphoma that causes anxiety. Dermatologists used a high diversity of the-mes when presenting mycosis fungoides to patients. The differences between the residents’ and attending physicians’ perceptions were minimal. Dermatologists have a kaleidoscope of views regarding the way they perceive mycosis fungoides, the way they think patients perceive it, and the way they communicate with patients. Maintaining patient-centred communication enables dermatologists to identify these gaps and view mycosis fungoides from their patients’ perspective.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberadv00784
JournalActa Dermato-Venereologica
Volume102
DOIs
StatePublished - 2022
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • illness perception
  • mycosis fungoides
  • psychoder-matology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Illness Perception Regarding Early-stage Mycosis Fungoides among Dermatologists: A Multi-centre Cross-sectional Study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this