Abstract: 【Abstract】 Objective To investigate Chinese dermatologists′ perceptions of the correlation between diet and psoriasis, and to analyze factors influencing their perceptions. Methods An exploratory survey study was conducted among Chinese dermatologists via the WeChat and Umer doctor platforms. The questionnaire consisted of 3 sections including career background characteristics （11 items）, dietary suggestions （3 items） and perceptions of effects of diet on psoriasis （19 items）. The results were expressed in frequency, assessed by chi-square test, and variables with significant differences were subjected to binary logistic regression analysis. Results A total of 3 905 valid questionnaires were received. Among these responders, 91% believed psoriasis could be affected by dietary factors, and most believed certain diets could aggravate the severity of psoriasis; most dermatologists （80.1%） suggested patients avoid some foods or drinks, and the top 5 foods or drinks suggested to be avoided were seafood （2 950, 94.34%）, spicy food （2 599, 83.11%）, wine （2 588, 82.76%）, mutton （1 995, 63.8%） and beef （1 979, 63.29%）. Logistic regression analysis revealed that doctors with a college degree, practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine or integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, and those from hospitals of traditional Chinese medicine were more likely to suggest food or drink avoidance（all P < 0.001）; practitioners of Western medicine （P < 0.001） and those specializing in psoriasis （P < 0.001） were more likely to inform that there was no need for food or drink avoidance, while those from municipal or county hospitals were less likely to inform that （P = 0.025, 0.042, respectively）. Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine （P < 0.001） or integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine （P = 0.004） were more likely to believe that foods could aggravate the disease condition, while clinicians with working experience of more than 20 years （P < 0.01） and those with a doctor degree （P = 0.008） were less likely to think so; doctors with a college degree, and those from traditional Chinese medicine hospitals were more likely to believe that drinks could aggravate the disease condition （both P < 0.05）; practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine or integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, those with intermediate and senior professional titles, those working at psoriasis specialty clinics and those engaged in psoriasis basic research were more likely to believe that foods could relieve the disease condition（all P < 0.05）; doctors from traditional Chinese medicine hospitals, those with working experience of > 5 years, those with a college degree, and those engaged in psoriasis basic research were more likely to believe that drinks could relieve the condition （all P < 0.05）. Conclusion A relatively high proportion of Chinese dermatologists have the viewpoints that diets are correlated with the severity of psoriasis and there is a need for food or drink avoidance, and this perception is related to academic degree, practicing category of clinicians, as well as the type and location of the hospital.

Key words: Psoriasis, Food, Beverages, Cognition, Cross-sectional studies