Exploring Young People’s Perceptions and Experiences of Psoriasis

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Exploring Young People’s Perceptions and Experiences of Living and Coping with Psoriasis: A Qualitative Study

  • IRAS ID

    143884

  • Contact name

    Lis Cordingley

  • Contact email

    lis.cordingley@manchester.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Manchester

  • Research summary

    Psoriasis is a long term skin condition which can be painful, highly visible and damaging to quality of life. In adults, this effect on quality of life relates closely to how a person understands and feels towards their psoriasis. This understanding can also affect behaviour, including for example how someone engages with treatment. Whilst these feelings, thoughts and their effects have been researched in adults with psoriasis, they have yet to be properly explored in young people. As teenage years are commonly when those with long-term conditions begin to manage their treatment and leave paediatric services for adult care, understanding the thoughts and feelings of those at this age and how these may affect their behaviour is an important research concern.

    The present study will explore young people’s (aged 16-25) experiences of living with psoriasis. Using individual interviews and a drawing activity, young people will be asked about their understanding and feelings towards psoriasis and its treatment, how they manage psoriasis’ effects and their experiences or feelings towards taking on their own care. Up to 20 young people from the NHS and community will be recruited to the study. Interviews will be analysed with ’Thematic Analysis’ to explore important topics within interviews and identify themes across participants’ experiences.

  • REC name

    North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    14/NW/0261

  • Date of REC Opinion

    15 May 2014

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion