Treatment-Seeking Behaviors and Related Epidemiological Features in Korean Acne Patients

• Published in: Journal of Korean medical science Vol. 23; no. 6; pp. 969 - 974
• Main Authors: Suh, Dae Hun, Shin, Jung Won, Min, Seong Uk, Lee, Dong Hun, Yoon, Mi Young, Kim, Nack In, Kye, Young Chul, Lee, Eil Soo, Ro, Young Suck, Kim, Kwang Joong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences 01.12.2008; 대한의학회
• Subjects: Acne Vulgaris - epidemiology; Acne Vulgaris - psychology; Acne Vulgaris - therapy; Adult; Demography; Female; Health Behavior; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Hospitals, University; Humans; Korea; Male; Original; Patient Satisfaction; Sex Factors; Stress, Psychological; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult; 의학일반; Korea; Therapy; Epidemiology; Acne Vulgaris
• ISSN: 1011-8934; 1598-6357; 1598-6357
• DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2008.23.6.969

Little is known about the treatment-seeking behaviors of acne patients, especially Asian acne patients. This study was performed to obtain detailed information about the treatment-seeking behaviors in Korean acne patients. Patients who visited the dermatology departments at 17 university hospitals completed a self-administered questionnaire. Most patients obtained information about acne from doctors or the Internet. The most important criteria for selecting a treatment method or choosing a particular clinic were effectiveness and accessibility. Patients used traditional medicine, visited beauty clinics, drank more water, and used over-the-counter topical agents more frequently than they sought doctors during the worsening period. The degree of satisfaction in treatment was found to depend on the total cost of treatment, number of places visited, site affected by acne, and emotional stress. Those who had experienced a side effect tended to have been treated for longer, to have paid more for treatment, and to have an associated skin disease. Treatments prescribed by dermatology clinics had the lowest aggravating rate, although improvement rates for family medicine clinics were also fairly high. This is the first study to investigate in detail the demographic features and characteristics of the treatment-seeking behaviors of acne patients in Asia.