[Management of psoriasis in family practice is now in closer agreement with the guidelines of the Netherlands Society of Family Physicians].

OBJECTIVE

To assess changes in incidence of psoriasis and to study changes in the management of psoriasis in general practice after the sending of guidelines on management of psoriasis to general practitioners (GPs) by the NHG.

DESIGN

Secondary data analysis.

SETTING

Netherlands Institute for Health Care Research (NIVEL), Utrecht, the Netherlands.

METHOD

Data on the incidence of psoriasis and its management by general practitioners were collected from a file predating the publication of the NHG guideline 'Psoriasis' in 1994, namely the 'Dutch National Survey of General Practice' (NS; 1987/'88), and from a subsequent file, the 'Registration Network Groningen' (RNG; 1995).

RESULTS

In the NS there were 106 new patients with psoriasis (incidence: 1.3/1000/year; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.2-1.4) while in the RNG there were 24 (incidence: 1.2/1000/year; 95% CI: 0.7-1.9). In all, there were 466 psoriasis patients in the NS and 125 in the RNG. The number of referrals to dermatologists was halved in 1995 (7.2%) compared with 1987/'88 (14.4%; p < 0.05). The most frequently prescribed dermatologica in psoriasis was in 1995 corticosteroid group 3 (32.8%; in 1987/'88: 28.5%), but the rise was stronger in corticosteroid group 2 (29.6%; in 1987/'88: 16.0%; p < 0.001) and group 4 (16.0%; in 1987/'88: 8.8%; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of psoriasis in general practice had not changed between 1987/'88 en 1995. Referral pattern and prescription shifted towards the guidelines issued by the NHG.