---
title: "Psokey"
description: "Psokey (UCB, 2020/21): Patients log symptoms in an app; dermatologists open a summary with a code"
url: "https://www.sugar-network.org/en/projects/psokey-2020-21/"
lang: "en"
---

# Psokey

**Patients log symptoms in an app; dermatologists open a summary with a code**

_Help the doctor help you_

- **Corporate partner:** [UCB](https://www.sugar-network.org/en/network/partners/ucb/) (https://www.ucb.com)
- **Cohort:** [2020/21](https://www.sugar-network.org/en/projects/cohort/2020-21/)
- **Theme:** [Health & care](https://www.sugar-network.org/en/projects/themes/health-care/)
- **Type:** Digital service
- **Key fact:** 15 min for a typical dermatologist consultation
- **Universities:** [University of Modena and Reggio Emilia](https://www.sugar-network.org/en/network/universities/unimore/), [d.school Paris · École des Ponts](https://www.sugar-network.org/en/network/universities/dschool-paris/)
- **Team:** 7 master students
- **Disciplines:** e-Health Engineering, Business Administration, Computer Science, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Physics

## Challenge

UCB asked how to better support psoriasis patients through lifelong treatment. Stigma and uncertain symptoms lead many to abandon treatment, and consultations last only 15 minutes.

## What the team learned

Both the patient's and the doctor's needs must be met to turn the short dermatology visit into quality time.

## What they built

Psokey is a two-sided service. Patients record medical history, symptoms, crises and questions in an app, and can order treatment. With a temporary code, the dermatologist opens a visual summary of current symptoms, treatment history and background.

## Impact

Consultations save time for both sides: patients need not retell their story, and physicians adapt care more precisely, which increases patients' involvement.

## Full project text

An app for psoriatic patients to manage their illness and better communicate with the doctor, optimising the medical consultation.

### Challenge

Improve the psoriatic patients’ journey in order to offer them support, considering that they have to deal with lifelong treatments. These patients face numerous difficulties because they suffer from stigmatization along with life impacting symptoms, often leading to a withdrawal from society. Medical care is essential, but patients tend to abandon all treatments due to the difficult identification of the disease and symptoms uncertainty, especially when they only have 15 minutes consultations with their dermatologist.

### Solution

An app was developed for psoriatic patients to index all their medical information and history, psoriasis related or broader, registering everything in an all-in-one tool. Everyday, they can also add new symptoms and crises. During the consultation, physicians can access an online plateforme with a temporary code provided by the patient. Thus, they can visualize all the patient’s data on a clear and synthetic board view, with current symptoms, treatment history and medical background. Extra features on the app offer reminders, but also an easy way to order the treatment directly from the pharmacy.

### Impact

Information transfer through a board visualisation enables to save time during the medical consultation, for both patients and physicians. Patients do not have to tell their story all over again, and physicians can collect precise and precious information in a few clicks. Together, they have more time to focus on the most important aspects of the disease. The solution helps physicians better adapt their care solutions, which leads to a better patient’s involvement in the medical journey. Moreover, the app features help relieve the patients’ mental load imposed by the disease on a daily basis.

## Who built it.

- Chiara Scagliarini, Physics (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia)
- Luca Gherardini, Computer Science (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia)
- Olha Lesyshyn, Management Engineering (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia)
- Andrea Merli, Business Administration (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia)
- Ana Carolina Soman, Graphic Design (d.school Paris · École des Ponts)
- Thomas Jannodet-Girardot, Mechanical Engineering & Industrial  Design (d.school Paris · École des Ponts)
- Léa Damian, Biotechnology & e-Health  Engineering (d.school Paris · École des Ponts)

## Sources

Summarised by the SUGAR editorial team from the team’s project page and SUGAR Expo booklet.

Open the 2020/21 booklet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cegdS8kVyRA2k5TB3BwgCZHCIjM0oyZp/view?usp=sharing