Comparative Study on Awareness Topical and Oral Steroid Use Awareness

Jung, Ji Yun; Shin, Yo Sup; Cho, Eun Byul; Park, Eun Joo; Kim, Kwang Ho; Kim, Kwang Joong

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Topical and oral steroids are widely prescribed in dermatology. While interest in steroid use has increased rapidly, people have also acquired misinformation that causes rampant fears.
OBJECTIVE
To identify fears and misunderstandings about steroid use by comparing doctors' attitudes and treatment and non-treatment group experiences with steroid use.
METHODS
A total of 346 participants including outpatients who visited the Department of Dermatology at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, physicians who work at the hospital, and visitors to its Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine completed questionnaires.
RESULTS
The topical treatment group had a high response rate of 46.7% regarding feeling "somewhat anxious" about using topical steroids, while the oral treatment group had a high response rate of 53.8% regarding feeling "somewhat anxious" about using oral steroids. With respect to information about the adverse effects of steroid use, those in the non-experience group obtained their information mostly from the Internet (67.5%) or the media (47.5%), whereas those in the topical treatment group obtained their information from product guides (48%) and doctors (38.7%). Meanwhile, the oral treatment group acquired information from acquaintances (39.7%) or doctors (32.1%).
CONCLUSION
Dermatologists must evaluate the validity of the information that patients have about the adverse effects of topical and oral steroid use as well as the resulting phenomenon of steroid phobia. If the information possessed by patients is inaccurate, clinicians must provide a full understanding and proper education to enhance patient satisfaction and treatment compliance and success rates.