French People and Skin Diseases

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, from the patients' viewpoint, the prevalence, management, and impact of main dermatologic disorders in France. DESIGN: Survey conducted from March 28 to May 6, 2002, with the Sofres Taylor Nelson Institute on 10,000 households using 1 questionnaire per household. SETTING: General community. PATIENTS: A total of 25,441 subjects from 10,000 households determined to be representative of the French population and regularly surveyed by the Taylor Nelson Sofres Institute. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Estimation of the prevalence of skin disorders by the French population. RESULTS: Of the 10 000 households, 7466 (74.7%) returned the questionnaire, which was completed for 18,137 (71.3%) of the 25,441 subjects. Of those, 15,742 reported having had skin problems since birth, or, by extrapolation, 86.8% (47.29 million) of the French population; 7841 reported having had skin problems in the past 24 months, or, by extrapolation, 43.2% (23.53 million) of the French population; and 28.7% said that their skin problems impaired their daily life. However, 61% of the sample were satisfied with their dermatologist. CONCLUSION: This survey of perceived health status in France highlights both the prevalence of skin disorders and the underestimation of the effects of dermatologic disorders in public health. A majority of the French population is satisfied with the care supplied by dermatologists.