HIDRADENITIS suppurativa conversation cards supported patient engagement without extending consultation time in a small clinical evaluation.
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) can place a substantial physical and psychological burden on patients, with pain, recurrent lesions, scarring, intimate concerns, and difficulties in daily life potentially complicating clinical conversations. Researchers have now developed a simple agenda setting tool designed to help patients identify which issues matter most before and during follow up consultations.
The researchers used a three stage, participatory design process involving patients and healthcare professionals. Interviews with 20 patients initially identified 25 potential topics, which were consolidated into an eight card prototype.
Workshops involving healthcare professionals and patients then refined the content and presentation. Patient feedback prompted the addition of a ninth card specifically addressing pain. The final set covered knowledge about HS, treatment options and subsequent management, dressings and rights, thoughts and feelings, daily life, social and intimate relationships, work and education, pain, and other concerns.
Notably, patients opposed adding smoking and weight management cards because these issues were already commonly addressed in care and could be perceived as stigmatizing.
The final conversation cards were evaluated during follow up consultations involving 44 patients. Twenty two used the cards, while 22 received standard consultations.
Patients using the tool selected between one and three cards each. Treatment options and subsequent management accounted for 38% of all card selections, while pain accounted for 32%. Average consultation duration was 15 minutes and 15 seconds with the cards compared with 15 minutes and 48 seconds without them.
Both groups reported high confidence discussing HS, including sensitive and important topics, and no statistically significant differences emerged between groups. However, patients exposed to the cards expressed strong interest in using them again. Several patients also reported that the tool helped them raise issues they might otherwise have omitted because of limited consultation time.
Physicians considered the cards user friendly, and three of four reported increased patient engagement. Pain was highlighted as one topic the cards helped bring into conversations that might otherwise be overlooked.
The findings suggest conversation cards could provide a practical, time neutral way to support patient centered hidradenitis suppurativa care. However, the small sample, observational design, and absence of statistically significant differences mean broader implementation cannot yet be supported. Larger prospective studies are needed to determine whether the approach improves self-management and longer term outcomes such as quality of life.
Reference
Reiersen MR et al. A step forward in hidradenitis suppurativa consultations: The development of conversation cards. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2026; doi:10.1111/jdv.70664.
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