title: Inappropriate amounts of topical tacrolimus applied on Korean patients with eczema.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The limited efficacy of topical tacrolimus may result from insufficient frequency of application or amount applied in eczema patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the frequency of application and amount of use of topical tacrolimus in patients with various types of eczema.
  
  
  METHODS
  The frequency of application and the applied amount of topical tacrolimus were assessed over two weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 200 eczema patients completed this study. The average number of applications per day was 1.75 ± 0.53, despite instructions to apply the topical tacrolimus twice daily. With respect to the frequency of application, 147 (73.5%) and 122 (61.0%) of patients followed the prescription in the first and second weeks, respectively. The average amount applied per 2% of total body surface area (TBSA) was 0.54 ± 0.52 g. Only 53 (26.5%) patients applied between 80 and 120% of expected amount of topical tacrolimus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency of application was self-reported, possibly resulting in limited accuracy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Korean patients with eczema tend to apply topical tacrolimus less frequently and in inappropriate amounts. Clear instructions regarding both the frequency and amount of application are needed to improve the therapeutic outcome with treatment with topical tacrolimus.
authors: a Department of Dermatology , School of Medicine, Pusan National University , Busan , Korea.
authors: Hyunju
authors: H
authors: Jin
authors: a Department of Dermatology , School of Medicine, Pusan National University , Busan , Korea.
authors: Jeong-Min
authors: JM
authors: Kim
authors: a Department of Dermatology , School of Medicine, Pusan National University , Busan , Korea.
authors: Gun-Wook
authors: GW
authors: Kim
authors: a Department of Dermatology , School of Medicine, Pusan National University , Busan , Korea.
authors: Hoon-Soo
authors: HS
authors: Kim
authors: a Department of Dermatology , School of Medicine, Pusan National University , Busan , Korea.
authors: Hyun-Chang
authors: HC
authors: Ko
authors: a Department of Dermatology , School of Medicine, Pusan National University , Busan , Korea.|b Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital , Busan , Korea.
authors: Moon-Bum
authors: MB
authors: Kim
authors: a Department of Dermatology , School of Medicine, Pusan National University , Busan , Korea.|b Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital , Busan , Korea.
authors: Byung-Soo
authors: BS
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D001830:Body Surface Area; D002648:Child; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004485:Eczema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016559:Tacrolimus
keywords: Adherence; atopic dermatitis; eczema; efficacy; tacrolimus; topical treatment