Primary Language in Relation to Knowledge of Diagnosis and Sun-Related Behaviors in Adults with Sun-Exacerbated Dermatoses.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate how patients' primary spoken language influences the understanding of their disorder and their subsequent sun-related behaviors.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study conducted between February 2015 and July 2016 in two outpatient dermatology clinics among 419 adults with a sun-exacerbated dermatosis. The primary outcome was a successful match between the patient-reported diagnosis on a survey and the dermatologist-determined diagnosis.

RESULTS

Of participants, 42% were native English speakers, and 68% did not know their diagnosis. Fewer non-native English speakers identified one risk factor for their condition (46% versus 54%, p < 0.01). A greater number of non-native English speakers were less familiar with medical terminology. Native English speakers were 2.5 times more likely to know their diagnosis compared to non-native speakers (adjusted odds (aOR) 2.5, 95% confidence interval, 1.32 to 4.5; p = 0.005). Additional factors associated with higher odds of knowing the diagnosis included: Higher education, sunscreen use, female gender, symptoms for 1-5 years, and diagnosis of melasma and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).

CONCLUSIONS

Knowledge of the diagnosis and understanding of factors that may influence skin disease may promote conscious sun behavior. Patients who knew that their diagnosis was sun-exacerbated had higher odds of wearing sunscreen.