TOPLINE:

Many Latine adults with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) reported unmet wound care and pain management needs, perceived discrimination, and difficulties with interpreter-mediated communication during dermatology care.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a qualitative study from June 2024 through March 2025 at two academic medical centers and two county hospitals in California that included 24 Latine adults (median age, 37.5 years; 71% women; 46% Spanish-language preferring) with HS.
• Investigators used deidentified, semi-structured interviews conducted by a bilingual Latine interviewer and transcribed and translated audio recordings.
• Researchers performed thematic analysis to identify patterns in experiences, attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs related to HS care.

TAKEAWAY:

• Unaddressed wound care and pain management burdened patients with self-directed care, encompassing insufficient guidance and personal burden from limited healthcare system support.
• Perceived discrimination during dermatology visits contributed to avoidance of care among some participants.
• Interpreter-mediated communication by phone or video limited patient-centered care for Spanish-speaking participants.

IN PRACTICE:

“In this qualitative study, many Latine participants with HS reported experiencing unaddressed wound care and pain management needs, perceived discrimination, and challenges with interpreter-mediated communication during care with a dermatologist,” the authors concluded. “Interventions to prioritize wound care and pain management in multidisciplinary care plans and optimize patient-centered HS care are needed,” they added.

SOURCE:

This study was led by Yanel Hernandez, BS, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, and was published online on December 23 in JAMA Dermatology.

LIMITATIONS:

Findings may not be generalizable beyond California or to individuals with HS who do not seek medical care. Researchers could not confirm whether dermatologists described by participants were board-certified.

DISCLOSURES:

This study received support from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases of the National Institutes of Health and the Dermatology Foundation. Two authors reported receiving personal fees and research funding from AbbVie, Medscape, Sonoma Biotherapeutics, Union Chimique Belge, Novartis, Pfizer, and several other companies. They also declared holding stock in Radera, serving as vice president/director of the HS Foundation, and acting as an associate editor for JAMA Dermatology. 

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.