Assessment of Quality of Life in Patients with Dermatological Conditions in Primary Healthcare in Goa, India

The study conducted at an Urban Health Centre in Goa, India, involved 150 adult patients with skin ailments and used the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) to assess their quality of life (QoL). The results indicated a small to moderate effect of skin diseases on QoL, with a mean DLQI score of 6.67 ± 4.147. Younger patients and males were more affected, with males having higher mean DLQI scores. The study highlighted the need for better management of skin diseases in primary healthcare, including special training for healthcare professionals and the addition of essential medications to the inventory. It also suggested using DLQI as a routine tool for primary healthcare decisions. Of the 48 patients referred to tertiary care, 47.9% reported a large effect on their life, but 93.8% had no change in diagnosis, although they received different medications. The study recommends caution in interpreting the results due to the small sample size and suggests a larger, multicentric study for more robust data. The study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee, Goa Medical College, Goa.