Outpatient Palliative Care Results in More Positive Experience for HS Patients

Key Takeaways

• HS patients receiving outpatient palliative care emphasized empathy, symptom control, and communication as central to care quality.

• Interdisciplinary support and effective care coordination were factors in improved emotional and physical wellbeing, the results showed

Individuals with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) who receive outpatient palliative care (PC) reported significant improvements in wellbeing, according to findings published in Archives of Dermatological Research.

Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 11 adults with HS who had received outpatient PC at a single academic center after referral from a specialty dermatology clinic. Interviews were thematically analyzed to uncover components of PC most valued by patients.

The results showed patients consistently highlighting four key aspects of care: expressions of empathy and compassion by providers; specialized knowledge in pain and symptom management; access to interdisciplinary psychosocial support; and expeditious, coordinated communication across providers. Many patients contrasted these attributes with previous experiences in conventional healthcare, describing PC as uniquely attentive to their needs.

“Our findings indicate that individuals with HS in this study valued aspects of care that prioritize empathy, symptom management, and effective communication,” the authors wrote. “These care components point to the importance of building clinical structures that support patient-centered care for HS.”

Source: Soltoff Alex, et al. Archives of Dermatological Research. 2025. Doi:10.1007/s00403-025-04121-1