Measuring the quality of life of patients with acne vulgaris and evaluating their admission to primary care

Acne vulgaris; that is a chronic skin condition that can cause mental health problems and can be diagnosed and treated in primary care settings. Our study was carried out to measure the quality of life of patients with acne vulgaris who applied to the Dermatological Outpatient Clinic of Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University Hospital and to evaluate their admission to primary care. In addition to the questionnaire prepared for the participants, AQLI and GAGS were applied. Our study included 221 patients with AV diagnosis who had applied to the dermatological Outpatient Clinic between 01.12.2021 and 01.04.2022. 29.0% of the patients applied to the family physician before the dermatologist due to acne. 4.5% of the patients came to the dermatology outpatient clinic with referral. In our study, a positive, very weak and statistically significant association was found between the GAGS score and the AQLI score. Female patients had significantly higher AQLI scores than males. Patients who consulted their general practitioner about acne had a significantly higher AQLI score than those who did not. In our study, it was found that the patients applied to the dermatologist without applying for their family doctor. Patients should be evaluated from a biopsychosocial perspective using a holistic approach. We believe that starting acne treatment with the family doctor and, if necessary, referral to the dermatologist will improve patients' quality of life. Keywords: Acne Vulgaris, Quality of Life, Family Physician