title: Evaluation of the influence of pharmacists and GPs on patient perceptions of long-term topical corticosteroid use.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess pharmacist and general practitioner (GP) advice and behaviors, as related to and reported by patients and parents of patients using topical corticosteroids (TCS) on a long-term basis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multicenter cross-sectional survey of patients (aged 18+) and parents of pediatric patients (aged <18) with a history of long-term (≥1 month) TCS use, assessing: TCS treatment adherence and reasons for non-adherence; beliefs regarding TCS use and safety; messages regarding TCS received from community pharmacists, GPs, family/friends and the Internet; and experiences of GP and pharmacist counseling regarding TCS use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 123 patients and 78 parents completed the survey (n = 201). 76.6% of respondents reported consistently ("Often" or "Always") receiving one or more message(s) regarding TCS "risk" from a GP and/or pharmacist (n = 192). Respondents reported being told to "try natural or complementary and alternative therapies before resorting to the use of TCS" significantly more often by pharmacists than by GPs (p = 0.039).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High rates of consistently delivered messages about TCS "risk" from GPs and pharmacists affect patient/parent understanding about TCS safety and may lead to treatment non-adherence. This indicates a need for reeducation of these groups on the safety of TCS use.
authors.affiliation: a Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Farrugia
authors.affiliation: a Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia.|b Department of Dermatology , Royal North Shore Hospital , St. Leonards , Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: a Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia.|b Department of Dermatology , Royal North Shore Hospital , St. Leonards , Australia.|c Centre for Vulvovaginal Health and Northern Paediatric Dermatology , North Shore Private Hospital , St. Leonards , Australia.
authors.forename: Gayle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: d School of Psychology , University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blaszczynski
authors.affiliation: e Faculty of Pharmacy , University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: a Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia.|b Department of Dermatology , Royal North Shore Hospital , St. Leonards , Australia.|f The Dermatology and Skin Cancer Centre , Gosford , Australia.
authors.forename: Saxon D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000523:psychology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards; D010594:Pharmacies; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000523:psychology*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D055815:Young Adult; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids
keywords: Adherence; general practitioner; pharmacist; topical corticosteroid