[Fear of cortisone: in pulmonary rehabilitation it is less than expected. Results of a patient survey].

BACKGROUND

The treatment of diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tracts can't be imagined without corticoids, applied systemically of locally. In specialist literature one can find indications of a certain reservation towards this kind of medication on the part of many patients. Sometimes, this reservation is so strong that it can be referred to as a regular fear of cortison. Bad compliance and with it, frequently, a deterioration of the symptoms, are inevitable consequences. The aim of the study was to find out how distinct the fear of cortison is with patients in pneumological rehabilitation and wether there are any relations with other spheres of attitude.

METHOD

Patients with COPD and asthma with inhalative and/or systemic corticoid medication received an extensive questionnaire during their rehabilitation as in-patients for four weeks. 102 questionnaires were evaluated.

RESULTS

The statements of the patients indicated high compliance regarding corticoid medication. As to the fear of such preparation, only 5/102 (4.9%) of those questioned produced results which suggest strong fear of cortison. Fear of cortison is, among other things, slightly related to general psychic-stress and a general negative attitude towards medicine. There is a negative correlation between compliance at the taking of medicine and fear of cortison.

CONCLUSIONS

Contrary to statements in specialist literature of wide-spread reservations and fear towards cortison, we have found out that these play only a minor part, at least with the mostly elderly clientele of pneumological rehabilitation. Different explanations are discussed.