Beliefs, knowledge, and perceptions of Najrani vitiligo patients regarding their illness

Background: Vitiligo is a common acquired depigmentary skin disease that affects 0.5–1% of the world population. Patient’s thought about vitiligo can result in positive and/or adverse implications for the management of their disease. Objective: This study sought to explore the knowledge and beliefs held by vitiligo patients attending Najran University Hospital and to explore the potential factors that might influence such believes. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study among patients with vitiligo was carried out between May 2018 and November 2019 included 60 patients aged over 12 years. The illness perception questionnaire in Arabic form administered to vitiligo patients and illness details was obtained. Results: In total, 60 (36 females, and 24 males) patients were included in the study, it was believed that fate, and evil eyes were the cause of vitiligo by 88% and 33% of the respondents, respectively. About 45%, 30%, and 20% believed in stress, hereditary, and altered immunity as a cause of their illness, respectively. About 50% believed that their illness had a major effect on their lives and 58% believed that vitiligo had strongly affected the way others see them; this was more common in female patients. About 90% believed that their illness was not contagious, 58% believed that they do understand their illness. About 75% and 45% reported feeling stress depressed, respectively, because of their disease; this was more common in females and independent on the educational level. Conclusions: Our results show that misunderstanding and negative attitudes are common among vitiligo patients which led to physiological stress, anxiety, and depression.