Psoriasis is a common noncommunicable disease visible on the skin that affects at least 60 million people worldwide. This course explores the epidemiology, clinical presentation and subtypes, diagnosis, and management of psoriasis. This course also offers insights into how it is to live with psoriasis.
Photo credit: IFPA
Language: English
NCD, NTD
Course information
Overview: Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated, inflammatory disease that primarily affects the skin. It is estimated that at least 60 million people worldwide live with psoriasis. The most common clinical phenotype is plaque psoriasis, characterized by well demarcated plaques covered in scales. It is associated with periodic flares and periods of remission. Psoriasis is a consequence of genetic and environmental factors. There is no cure for psoriasis but several treatment options exist to manage the disease.
Course duration: Approximately 2 hours.
Certificates: A Certificate of Achievement will be issued to participants who score at least 80% of the total points available in the final assessment. Participants who receive a certificate of achievement can also download an Open Badge for this course. Click here to learn how.
What you'll learn
- Describe the epidemiology of psoriasis and its severity classification
- List the subtypes of psoriasis and the tools for its diagnosis
- Outline the treatment options currently available
- List the comorbidities linked to psoriasis
- Acknowledge the impact of psoriasis on people living with it
Course contents
Module 1: Introduction to psoriasis:
This module provides an overview of psoriasis, its prevalence and its variations in terms of age, genetics, and ethnicity. Moreover, it illustrates the current severity classification and the tools to assess it, including the burden on people living with the condition.Module 2: Subtypes of psoriasis and diagnosis:
The module describes the common types of psoriasis and their clinical features. It outlines the areas of the body having the highest impact, and the presentation of psoriasis on different skin tones. Moreover, it provides an explanation on how to diagnose psoriasis and differentiate it from other common diseases presenting on the skin.Module 3: Treatment:
This module provides an overview of the current therapeutic options available for the listed subtypes of psoriasis. The therapeutic options are presented subdivided into the categories topical therapies, phototherapy, and systemic therapies. Special consideration is given to those therapeutic options included in the WHO List of Essential Medicines.Module 4: Comorbidities:
The module lists the most common comorbidities of psoriasis. Special attention is given to psoriatic arthritis: the module includes information on screening tools and which questions to ask to a person with psoriasis to assess if the person has signs of psoriatic arthritis. Common comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, mental health conditions, and other emerging diseases linked to psoriasis are discussed.Module 5: Living with psoriasis and public health considerations:
In this final module the course outlines what is the impact of psoriasis on people living with it and which instruments are available to minimize it. The impact of psoriasis on mental, health, ability to work, personal finances, and family are explained, as well as the impact due to stigmatization. The module ends with the presentation of the World Health Assembly resolution on psoriasis (WHA67.9) and the WHO Global Report on Psoriasis as two instruments available to all stakeholders to improve the lives of people living with psoriasis.
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Certificate Requirements
- Gain a Record of Achievement by earning at least 80% of the maximum number of points from all graded assignments.
- Gain an Open Badge by completing the course.