Transition of Patients with Psoriasis from Office-Based Phototherapy to Nurse-Supported Home Phototherapy: A Pilot Study

Background Home phototherapy is a safe and effective treatment for psoriasis but is not commonly utilized as a treatment option in the United States. Recently, there has been renewed interest in home phototherapy. This pilot study describes the nursing support needed to facilitate effective transition of ongoing office-based phototherapy patients to home phototherapy. Methods Ten patients with a diagnosis of psoriasis receiving office-based phototherapy were identified as candidates for home phototherapy. They received group education on self-administration by specialized phototherapy nurses. Some patients required additional one-on-one training. Units were installed, and home phototherapy was initiated. Subsequent nursing care consisted of telephone support with the study nurse on a weekly basis for 4-8 weeks with follow-up telephone calls on an as-needed basis. Results Eleven patients initially participated in the 8-month trial. Ten were successfully transitioned to home treatments. One patient discontinued the study. The 10 patients were independently self-administering home phototherapy with minimal nursing support by Week 8 of the study. Conclusion Transition of patients with psoriasis receiving office-based phototherapy to home phototherapy can be done successfully while maintaining control of psoriasis. Considerable nursing resources are required for initial patient education, but they decrease significantly with time.