NPF offers a new patient information resource for a pediatric audience

National Psoriasis Foundation has launched a new website specifically designed for the information needs of children and teens who have psoriatic arthritis.

The site, called Our Spot, offers a welcome kit that includes an interactive information booklet for newly diagnosed young patients; a symptom tracker/journal for parents who also receive a “Parent Guide,” healthy living tips and a one-year subscription to Psoriasis Advance magazine. The site has additional resources: an information resource center for school teachers, a hotline (The Patient Navigation Center), webcasts and patient stories. The NPF can be a valuable partner for clinicians who may not have time to address the psychosocial impact of psoriasis during a clinic visit, said pediatric dermatologist Kelly Cordoro, M.D., of the University of California, San Francisco.

Visit Our Spot online at www.psoriasis.org/our-spot

“Online information from a reliable source will allow children and teens to access this information in private on their own, thus reducing the additional stigma that may be caused by making them talk about sensitive issues during a clinic visit,” she said.

Our Spot can augment critical doctor-patient conversations. For example, bullying - which is common amongst young psoriasis patients -may come up during an office visit.

“Bullying is not only important, but in my opinion, critical, to address during clinic visits with children, because so many children with visible skin diseases are stigmatized and harassed. They will not typically offer this information unless asked. Even when asked, children are hesitant to discuss bullying because they are often embarrassed to admit that it is happening to them,” Dr. Cordoro said.

Disclosure: Amgen sponsors Our Spot.