The proportion of clinical images shared with patients with psoriasis during trials is low, according to a recent study published by Polesie et al in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment. In a systemic review, investigators used the Embase, MEDLINE, and Scopus databases—and adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines—to determine the proportion of clinical images shared with patients participating in prospective randomized controlled trials for the treatment of psoriasis. The investigators identified 152 trials that assessed the benefit of biologic agents in 62,871 patients. They discovered that 203 clinical images in scientific manuscripts were shared with the patients, resulting in a share rate of 0.1%. They emphasized that although scientific manuscripts detailing disease severity and outcomes may be challenging to comprehend for many patients with psoriasis, clinical images may help them better interpret treatment effects. The investigators hope that their new findings may inspire the pharmaceutical industry, sponsors, and editorial offices to improve their sharing of clinical images with patients who have psoriasis.
December 06, 2023