Rosacea understanding among Korean patients: A multi-center questionnaire study

Rosacea is a common chronic skin condition. To manage rosacea long-term and prevent further flare-ups, patients need to be aware of the disease and have sound knowledge of the condition. However, few related studies have been conducted on this subject. The aim of this study was to identify rosacea awareness and knowledge among Korean rosacea patients and their means of gathering information on the disease. A prospective multicenter cross-sectional study recruited a total of 201 outpatients who were diagnosed with rosacea by a dermatologist. All were asked to complete a questionnaire asking about their demographic characteristics, rosacea awareness, and knowledge. Among 201 rosacea patients, 146 (72.6%) were unaware of the disease before their diagnosis. The median number of questions the patients correctly answered was 6 of a total of 13 questions (46%) on rosacea knowledge, implying relatively shallow knowledge on rosacea. Better understanding of rosacea was negatively associated with age (odds ratio [OR] 0.965; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.941 – 0.989) and positively associated with a higher education level (OR = 2.896; 95% CI: 1.379–6.082). Individuals with rosacea felt that they were getting reliable information from doctors (n = 189, 94%), followed by the Internet (n = 38, 18.9%). Overall, rosacea awareness and knowledge among Korean rosacea patients were relatively low. Detailed education, especially targeting elderly patients and those with low education levels, is necessary for better disease outcomes.