THE IMPACT OF VIRAL WARTS ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS.

Background: Viral warts are a common skin infection caused by the human papillomavirus. Aim: To understand the impact of viral warts on the quality of life (QoL) of patients receiving liquid nitrogen treatment and the variables that affect QoL of patients. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at the National Skin Centre (NSC), Singapore, between November 2014 and September 2015. Patients with viral warts on the face, hand and foot were included in the study. The Dermatology Life Quality Index for Viral Warts (DLQI-VW) was the main outcome measure. Results: 222 out of 259 patients (85.7%) participated in the study. Patients were most frustrated with the persistence of warts (1.85±1.51), recurrence of warts (1.50±1.58), and time spent on treatment (1.16±1.31). Using multiple regression, Chinese race (p=.032), patients who had sought over-the-counter treatments prior to coming for liquid nitrogen treatment (p=.024), higher education (p=.002), patients who sought over-thecounter treatment (t=2.27, p=0.02), and perceived ineffectiveness of treatment (t=-3.16, p=.002) predicted lower QoL. Factors such as age (r=-0.22, p=0.001), marital status (t=2.49, p=0.01), wart site (F=5.40, p=0.001), number of warts (r=0.16, p=0.02), and number of treatments (r=0.14, p0.04), were significant in the univariate analysis but not in the overall multiple regression. Conclusion: Patients were most frustrated with the persistence and recurrence of viral warts, and time spent on treatment. Protective factors included Malay race, patients who have not sought over-the-counter treatments, lower education, and perceived effectiveness of treatment. Factors such as age, marital status, wart site, number of warts and number of treatment sessions were significant in the univariate analysis but not in the overall multiple regression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]