To describe healthcare professionals’ perspectives on diagnosing and managing vitiligo using cross-sectional findings from the international VALIANT survey.
Approach:
Design and setting: Multinational cross-sectional survey conducted from May 6 to June 21, 2021, across 17 countries.
Participants and analysis: A total of 1,203 dermatologists and primary care physicians completed a 30-minute questionnaire on vitiligo diagnosis, management, and treatment. Findings were summarized descriptively; categorical variables were compared using chi-square tests.
Key Findings:
Among 454 self-identified nonspecialists, 82.2% reported trying to treat patients before referring them to a vitiligo specialist; 17.8% reported immediate referral.
HCPs reported examining lesions very often or always in 74.1% of cases and the full body in 65.1%; 42.3% used a Wood’s lamp.
Repigmentation of lesions was the most frequently reported leading treatment goal (37.2%), followed by improved long-term clinical outcomes (24.9%).
Topical therapies were the most frequently prescribed treatment type (91.4%), followed by light, laser, or phototherapy (65.7%) and oral medications (53.8%).
Among HCPs prescribing treatments at least sometimes, 45.5%–69.9% waited less than 3 months to assess outcomes, while 4.4%–14.4% waited more than 6 months, depending on treatment type.
Lack of treatment response and treatment being too time consuming were the leading reported reasons for treatment interruptions.
Interpretation:
The authors identify opportunities for HCP education on timely referral or consultation with vitiligo specialists and on allowing longer treatment periods to support repigmentation. The article notes that guidelines recommend treating vitiligo for a minimum of 6 months.
Limitations:
The findings are based on HCP self-report in a cross-sectional survey.
The survey was conducted in 2021, before approval of ruxolitinib cream for repigmentation of nonsegmental vitiligo.
