Evaluation of the influence of pharmacists and GPs on patient perceptions of long-term topical corticosteroid use.

PURPOSE

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.

MATERIALS AND 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.