INTRODUCTION
Geriatric dermatology is an emerging field of dermatology, focused on the unique needs of older adults with dermatological diagnoses. Previous research identified important principles to consider in older adults with skin disease, including cognition, polypharmacy, mobility, social support1 and sleep disturbance.2 As the population of older adults continues to rise, it is critical to identify the barriers to care and treatment faced by older adults patients to guide future interventions. We aimed to assess provider perceptions and attitudes regarding the unique needs of older adult patients in dermatology clinics.
Members of the Orlando Dermatology Aesthetic and Clinical Conference mailing list were surveyed via email. This study was approved by the George Washington University Institutional Review Board (IRB#: NCR213563). Of the 2840 recipients who opened the email invitation, 169 (5.9%) providers completed the survey.
Of the survey respondents, 92.9% were dermatologists, and 6.5% were advanced practice providers (Table 1). Providers selected limited social support systems, difficulty in comprehension of treatment plans, and financial barriers as the three most pressing issues affecting the care of older adult patients. Hearing problems and lack of a social support system were the most commonly identified barriers to care, selected by 82.9% and 82.8% of practitioners, respectively. The following barriers to care in older adult patients were also identified by providers (%): immobility (74.4%), the ability of the patient to communicate clearly (69.5%), transportation barrier (77.5%), financial barrier (72.2%), Medicare limitations (66.9%), poor psychosocial functioning (77.5%) and telehealth due to the COVID-19 pandemic (71.2%) (Figure 1). Additionally, when asked about the most common complaint from older adults during dermatology
Members of the Orlando Dermatology Aesthetic and Clinical Conference mailing list were surveyed via email. This study was approved by the George Washington University Institutional Review Board (IRB#: NCR213563). Of the 2840 recipients who opened the email invitation, 169 (5.9%) providers completed the survey.
Of the survey respondents, 92.9% were dermatologists, and 6.5% were advanced practice providers (Table 1). Providers selected limited social support systems, difficulty in comprehension of treatment plans, and financial barriers as the three most pressing issues affecting the care of older adult patients. Hearing problems and lack of a social support system were the most commonly identified barriers to care, selected by 82.9% and 82.8% of practitioners, respectively. The following barriers to care in older adult patients were also identified by providers (%): immobility (74.4%), the ability of the patient to communicate clearly (69.5%), transportation barrier (77.5%), financial barrier (72.2%), Medicare limitations (66.9%), poor psychosocial functioning (77.5%) and telehealth due to the COVID-19 pandemic (71.2%) (Figure 1). Additionally, when asked about the most common complaint from older adults during dermatology
