Stigma experiences through the lens of Filipinos living with psoriasis

• Main Author: Gangano, Moises Edd O.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2021
• Subjects: Psoriasis—Patients > Philippines; Sociology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdd_behsc/1; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=etdd_behsc
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study employed a descriptive phenomenological approach that explores the lived experiences of Filipino psoriasis patients. Eighteen (18) participants were gathered through purposive sampling. The experiences of the participants were accumulated then enriched through semi-structured interviews and storytelling. Narratives were subsequently transcribed and analyzed through the Colaizzi phenomenological method of inquiry. The in-depth interviews revealed that psoriasis is not only a problem that pertains to the skin and that the disease is more than its immediate and visible symptoms. Due to the perception of one's skin and negative self-image, psoriasis patients experience emotional distress, affecting their social functioning and interpersonal relationships. Stigmatization and rejection are effects of psoriasis that are frequently experienced by patients that may significantly worsen their quality of life or even cause depression. Moreover, the findings reveal that psoriasis is still perceived as a contagious disease. A lack of awareness and education in the general population causes society's stigmatization and rejection of the patient. Findings and the conclusion of this study help society increase its knowledge and understanding regarding the disease and its process, which, in turn, could lead to a more profound, more empathetic sense of the impact that a diagnosis of psoriasis carries. Keywords: psoriasis, qualitative study, phenomenology