Increasing Awareness of Psoriasis as a Chronic Immune-Mediated Systemic Inflammatory Disease to Improve Patient Outcomes - The National Psoriasis Foundation proposes a three-year project to raise awareness among public health professionals, healthcare providers and the public about psoriasis, an immune-mediated, systemic, inflammatory disease associated with considerable social and individual burden, and increased rates of comorbidities. It is critical to increase education and awareness about psoriasis in order to expand screening, care and appropriate interventions to optimize patient outcomes, especially for communities of color, the LGBT community, rural communities, people of low socioeconomics status and Medicare beneficiaries. To accomplish this goal, NPF will: 1. Review and synthesize current data and evidence about psoriasis to inform the development of a national indicator report which will be disseminated to public health professionals; 2. Identify data and evidence gaps about psoriasis and develop strategies to address these gaps; 3. Develop and disseminate educational materials and activities to raise public awareness of psoriasis as an immune-mediated systemic inflammatory disease and the associated comorbid conditions; and 4. Develop and disseminate educational materials and activities to educate healthcare providers and local public health offices about psoriasis that address issues of undiagnosed and undertreated disease, and present evidence-based interventions to screen and/or manage comorbidities associated with psoriasis.
