Shared decision-making for vitiligo.

Abstract

Linked Article: Shourick et al. Br J Dermatol 2021; 185:787-796. Vitiligo is a persistent or chronic condition in which areas of skin lose their normal pigment and become very pale. It is common, affecting about 1% of the world's population. Vitiligo affects men and women of all races equally, but is more noticeable in people with skin of colour. Treatment of vitiligo is often challenging and patients need to persist with treatment long term. Shared decision-making tools (SDMts) are visual aids that are developed to promote joint medical decision-making between physicians and patients. They may help patients better define what they would like to achieve in terms of treatment. In dermatology, various decision support tools have been developed but none for vitiligo. In this study a SDMt was developed and tested in 30 French and 10 US adult patients with vitiligo. The patients who took part in the study reported high satisfaction rates with the use of this tool during their consultations with clinicians. In conclusion, this SDMt for vitiligo can be used routinely in daily clinical practice, and may help patients to continue with treatment for longer. It is an important step towards patient-centred care for patients with vitiligo.