Translating psoriasis guidelines into practice: Important gaps revealed

Background There is a well-established lack of adherence to evidence-based clinical guidelines. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) developed educational sessions entitled Translating Evidence into Practice based on the published guidelines for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Objective We sought to determine the effectiveness of Translating Evidence into Practice sessions in improving patient care. Methods Pre- and post-session surveys were administered at Translating Evidence into Practice sessions. A follow-up was administered 6 months after completion of the most recent session, which was 2.5 years after the first session. Results At both post-session and follow-up, more than 92% of participants believed the sessions had improved their knowledge. The proportion of participants that self-reported assessing disease severity, comorbidities, and quality of life increased at follow-up. Participants' self-reported counseling of patients and confidence in treating psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis also increased at post-session and follow-up. Greater than 97% of participants thought the sessions would have a positive impact on their practice whereas 50% reported making a change in practice. Limitations Lack of a control group, the self-reported nature of the data, and potential participant bias are limitations. Conclusion The AAD's Translating Evidence into Practice sessions are effective and well received for improving knowledge and practice and can be useful to determine self-reported practice gaps.