Krankheitserfahrungen und Zugangswege zum Gesundheitssystem bei Patienten mit chronischen Hauterkrankungen

Skin diseases are a frequent cause counseling in general practice. The aim of this study was to analyze access routes into the official health care system and disease experiences of patients with chronic skin diseases. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 16 patients from urban and rural areas, which lasted 23-38 minutes. Patients were recruited through their primary care physicians. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed qualitatively in content analysis by two independent investigators by creating a coding tree. In addition, a questionnaire (n = 265) with seven items in was distributed in the waiting rooms of doctors' offices. Results: Information laity play an important role in assessing new-onset skin diseases. By illness incurred suffering and externally visible changes are the reason for a doctor's visit. The majority of respondents would seek to first consult their family doctor and not directly a dermatologist. The disease impacts are complex and relate to social, occupational, psychological areas. Disease management in primary care context is highly variable, illness behavior and coping strategies of patients are between individuals vary considerably. The family doctor is in our survey for most patients with skin diseases of the desired first point of contact within the official health system. Further studies for dermatological care home medical patients would be welcome.