Topical corticosteroid concerns from the clinicians' perspective.
OBJECTIVE
Topical corticosteroids concerns (TCC) are common in dermatology patients, possibly leading to non-adherence to topical corticosteroids (TCS) and poor disease control. Clinicians play a key role in that context, as they can reduce or reinforce these concerns. It is unknown, if clinicians have accurate knowledge of TCC to appropriately address this issue and whether they have concerns themselves to use TCS. This questionnaire-based study aimed to assess these two aspects.


METHODS
Accuracy of knowledge was defined by how close the clinicians' estimates were to reference values of our previous study, in which we had examined TCC in dermatology outpatients. Moreover, clinicians indicated whether they have concerns themselves to use TCS.


RESULTS
Totally 202 clinicians participated. They underestimated both the prevalence of TCC and the resulting non-adherence. Whereas most clinicians correctly estimated characteristics of patients with TCC and the impact of patient information, only 31% of clinicians knew that skin atrophy was the leading concern, and only 30% correctly ranked the reasons for TCC. 74% of the clinicians had at least minor concerns themselves.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of clinicians may have inaccurate knowledge of certain aspects of TCC and own concerns to use TCS.
a Department of Dermatology , University Hospital Basel , Basel, Switzerland.
Simon M
SM
Mueller
a Department of Dermatology , University Hospital Basel , Basel, Switzerland.
Dominique
D
Tomaschett
b Clinical Trial Unit, Department of Clinical Research , University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel , Switzerland.
Deborah R
DR
Vogt
a Department of Dermatology , University Hospital Basel , Basel, Switzerland.
Peter
P
Itin
c Department of Dermatology , University Hospital Zurich , Zurich, Switzerland.
Antonio
A
Cozzio
a Department of Dermatology , University Hospital Basel , Basel, Switzerland.|c Department of Dermatology , University Hospital Zurich , Zurich, Switzerland.
Christian
C
Surber
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000072085:Dermatologists / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D015995:Prevalence; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids
Topical steroids; adherence; concerns; dermatologists; non-dermatologists