Improving the disease awareness: how a communication campaign brings hidradenitis suppurativa to the light

Abstract

Background Hidradenitis suppurativa is an inflammatory skin disease that presents a recurrence of painful and suppurating lesions in the apocrine gland‐bearing regions, with a strong impact on the patients’ life quality. Despite its peculiar presentation, early forms are often underestimated by patients and this would inevitably result in late diagnosis and delayed therapy. Objectives Improved communication around the disease could facilitate self‐diagnosis and a quicker response from healthcare practitioners, especially in this moment when we dispose of effective treatment against this disease. Methods A HS awareness campaign was conducted for 2 years with the help of a media agency and a patients’ association. Results Results confirm that a better communication has a strong impact on the disease awareness. Conclusions This paper demonstrates that the more this disease awareness is carried on, the more quick, effective and efficient the patient's management could be.

Obstacles to Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Current Perspectives on Improving Clinical Management

“…For example, a two-year HS awareness campaign in Italy utilized many outlets, including social media, to disseminate information about the condition, resulting in over 500 new HS diagnoses. 45 Social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, also serve as communities from which patients seek education related to their disease. [46][47][48] Observations from the largest HS support group in 2017-2018, consisting of almost 13,000 members, found that over half of the posts were requests for information, predominantly about lifestyle changes, symptom management, and experiences with medications.…”