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Ninety‐six points of light: phototherapy practices of members of The Photomedicine Society
Author(s) -
Evans Colby C.,
Cruz Ponciano D.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
photodermatology, photoimmunology and photomedicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.736
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1600-0781
pISSN - 0905-4383
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0781.2003.00006.x
Subject(s) - treatment modality , medicine , modalities , dermatology , optometry , family medicine , surgery , social science , sociology
Background: Phototherapy is an effective and relatively safe treatment for many skin diseases. Recent concern has focused on an apparent decline in phototherapy usage in the US. Objective: To determine the current state of phototherapy as practiced globally. Methods: Cross‐sectional survey of members of the Photomedicine Society. Results: Data derived from responses of 96 members showed all to have been in practice for more than five years, providing phototherapy within two years of completing residency. Usage of narrow‐band ultraviolet B, ultraviolet A‐1 (UVA‐1), bath‐psoralens plus UVA, and photodynamic therapy was markedly greater among phototherapists in Europe compared to their counterparts in North America and Asia. Conclusions: Worldwide, there are fewer younger dermatologists who incorporate phototherapy in their practices. European phototherapists have led the world in usage of the newer phototherapy modalities.