title: [Evaluation of the prescription of long-term systemic steroid-therapy associated measures].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To prevent the occurrence of corticosteroid's side effects, adjuvant measures are prescribed in a very different way depending on the practitioner's experience. The aim of this study was to assess the physicians' practices regarding the prescription of long-term corticosteroid therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In May 2010, we realized a cross-sectional study among physicians in Ibn Sina University Hospital in Rabat. With a data collection form, we assessed the principal indications for prescribing steroids and the frequency of prescription of measures sometimes associated with systemic corticosteroid.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-nine out of eighty physicians completed the data collection form (response rate: 69.4%). Calcium-vitamin D supplementation was recommended by most of the physicians. Half of them were prescribing biphosphonate therapy. Most of them propose a low-sodium, a low-fat and a low-carbohydrate dietary regimen. Regular physical exercise was recommended by 35% of physicians. Gastric protection was indicating by 54.4% of practicians and potassium supplementation by 42.1% of them. Finally, the recommendation for influenza vaccination, hydrocortisone prescription and Synacthen(®) test, varied between physicians.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prescription of adjuvant measures with a long-term corticosteroid therapy was very heterogeneous. There is no consensus regarding most of the measures.
authors.affiliation: Service de dermatologie vénérologie, faculté de médecine et de pharmacie, université Mohamed V, CHU Ibn Sina, Rabat, Maroc. fz-lamchahab2008@hotmail.fr
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Lamchahab
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Reffas
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bouattar
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Abdellaoui
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ouzeddoun
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bayahia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aouni
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: El Fassi Fihri
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Senouci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ait Ourhroui
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hassam
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000517:prevention & control; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco; D010820:Physicians; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D