Barriers to Care-Seeking and Treatment Adherence Among Dermatology Patients in Makkah Saudi Arabia

ackground: Barrier documentation and dermatology access are the primary steps to discourse the dermatological needs of the underserved population. Access to healthcare and following prescribed treatments can be challenging due to various factors, including socioeconomic status, cultural differences, health systems, and transportation issues. Aim: This study aims to assess barriers to care-seeking and treatment adherence among dermatology patients in Makkah Saudi Arabia. Methods and materials: A descriptive cross-sectional web-based study was conducted. Adults aged 18 years and above, living in Makkah Saudi Arabia who have visited a dermatology clinic before or have a chronic dermatological condition and who agree to participate in the study were included. The data were collected through a pretested, structured online questionnaire. The survey is divided into 3 sections covering socio-demographic data, barriers to care-seeking, and treatment adherence. The study survey was uploaded online using social media platforms, the data was extracted into a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet and analyzed by SPSS data package version 21. Results: A total of 270 eligible dermatology patient completed the study questionnaire. Patients' ages ranged from 18 to 91 years with a mean age of 28.1 ± 10.5 years old. A total of 193 (71.5%) of the patients avoided visiting a dermatologist because of a skin or hair problem, and 165 (61.1%) had difficulties finding a dermatologist or skin care specialist. Also, 224 (83%) had difficulty adhering to the treatment plan prescribed for their skin condition mainly due to taking a long time to apply treatments (37.1%), high medication cost (22.6%), and the treatment composition being unacceptable (15.4%). Conclusion: In conclusion, the current study revealed that there was poor adherence of the dermatological patients for medical care mainly due to financial issues and difficulty in finding a dermatologist or having an appointment. Also. Patient commitment to the prescribed treatment or treatment plan was poor mainly due to drug cost or delayed response to treatment.