Abstract
Aim
This article aims to evaluate community pharmacists’ knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) regarding the safety and consumption of topical corticosteroids (TC).
Subjects and methods
A descriptive cross-sectional study was held among community pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). One-to-one interviews were then carried out, and the structured questionnaire that was used was mainly composed of two sections: demographic and socio-economic information and the KAP regarding topical corticosteroids. The data were analysed using STATA version 14.2.
Results
The KAP score was on average 55%, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of [55.1%, 56.9%]. The statistical modelling results showed that sex, the university from which the participant graduated, pharmacy type, years of experience, percentage of full-time employment and participation in educational training are strong determinants of the KAP towards topical corticosteroid use and safety.
Conclusions
Pharmacists’ knowledge and attitude regarding topical corticosteroids, which affect the practice of using topical corticosteroids and providing advice, demonstrate that there is a deficiency in the pharmacy curriculum at pharmacy training institutes in the UAE. It appears that educational courses on this topic at the UAE’s universities are lacking, and pharmacists in training should be offered courses regarding the rational consumption of topical corticosteroids; this is a matter of some urgency if the deficiencies highlighted are to be addressed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Atherton DJ (2003) Topical corticosteroids in atopic dermatitis. BMJ 327:942–943. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.327.7421.942
Carlos G, Fernández-Peñas P, Uribe P (2013) Rational use of topical corticosteroids. Aust Prescr 36:158–161. https://doi.org/10.18773/austprescr.2013.063
Carlson A, Miller DM (2016) Interventions to improve quality of life for patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Drug Topics 160(8)
Charman CR, Morris AD, Williams HC (2000) Topical corticosteroid phobia in patients with atopic eczema. Br J Dermatol 142:931–936. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2133.2000.03473.x
Comstock TL, DeCory HH (2012) Advances in corticosteroid therapy for ocular inflammation: loteprednol etabonate. Int J Inflam 2012:789623. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/789623
Dhar S (2013) Topical therapy of atopic dermatitis. Indian J Paediatr Dermatol 14:4–8. https://doi.org/10.4103/2319-7250.116840
Eichenfield LF et al (2014) Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis: section 2. Management and treatment of atopic dermatitis with topical therapies. J Am Acad Dermatol 71:116–132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2014.03.023
Ference JD, Last AR (2009) Choosing topical corticosteroids. Am Fam Physician 79:135–140
Finlay AY, Edwards PH, Harding KG (1989) "Fingertip unit" in dermatology. Lancet 334:155. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(89)90204-3
Fischer G (1996) Compliance problems in paediatric atopic eczema. Australas J Dermatol 37:S10–S13. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-0960.1996.tb01070.x
Horn EJ, Domm S, Katz HI, Lebwohl M, Mrowietz U, Kragballe K (2010) Topical corticosteroids in psoriasis: strategies for improving safety. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 24:119–124. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-3083.2009.03358.x
Jung HH, Ji YS, Sung MS, Kim KK, Yoon KC (2015) Long-term outcome of treatment with topical corticosteroids for severe dry eye associated with Sjögren’s syndrome. Chonnam Med J 51:26–32. https://doi.org/10.4068/cmj.2015.51.1.26
Lau W, Donyai P (2017) Knowledge, attitude and advice-giving behaviour of community pharmacists regarding topical corticosteroids. Pharmacy 5:41. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy5030041
Lawshe CH (1975) A quantitative approach to content validity. Pers Psychol 28:563–575. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.1975.tb01393.x
Lee S-J, Choi H-J, Hann S-K (1999) Rosacea-like tinea faciei. Int J Dermatol 38:479–480. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-4362.1999.00646.x
McGhee CN (1992) Pharmacokinetics of ophthalmic corticosteroids. Br J Ophthalmol 76:681–684. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjo.76.11.681
Msika P, De Belilovsky C, Piccardi N, Chebassier N, Baudouin C, Chadoutaud B (2008) New emollient with topical corticosteroid-sparing effect in treatment of childhood atopic dermatitis: SCORAD and quality of life improvement. Pediatr Dermatol 25:606–612. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1470.2008.00783.x
Polit DF, Beck CT, Owen SV (2007) Is the CVI an acceptable indicator of content validity? Appraisal and recommendations. Res Nurs Health 30:459–467. https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.20199
Rathi S (2006) Abuse of topical steroid as cosmetic cream: a social background of steroid dermatitis. Indian J Dermatol 51:154–155. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5154.26949
Ring L, Kettis-lindblad Å, Kjellgren KI, Kindell Y, Maroti M, Serup J (2007) Living with skin diseases and topical treatment: patients’ and providers’ perspectives and priorities. J Dermatolog Treat 18:209–218. https://doi.org/10.1080/09546630701278224
Saravanakumar R, Prasad G, Ragul G, Mohanta G, Manna P, Moorthi C (2012) Study of prescribing pattern of topical corticosteroids in the department of dermatology of a multispecialty tertiary care teaching hospital in South India. Int J Res Pharm Sci 3:685–687
Schneider L et al (2013) Atopic dermatitis: a practice parameter update 2012. J Allergy Clin Immunol 131:295–299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2012.12.672
Scicchitano R et al (2004) Efficacy and safety of budesonide/formoterol single inhaler therapy versus a higher dose of budesonide in moderate to severe asthma. Curr Med Res Opin 20:1403–1418. https://doi.org/10.1185/030079904x2051
Sindhu S, Dutta S, Beg M, Mittal S, Gupta S (2015) Comparative evaluation of topical carboxymethyl cellulose either alone or in combination with topical corticosteroid in the treatment of dry eye in a tertiary-care teaching hospital. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol 5:207–211. https://doi.org/10.5455/njppp.2015.5.1601201519
Smith SD, Hong E, Fearns S, Blaszczynski A, Fischer G (2010) Corticosteroid phobia and other confounders in the treatment of childhood atopic dermatitis explored using parent focus groups. Australas J Dermatol 51:168–174. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-0960.2010.00636.x
Smith SD, Lee A, Blaszczynski A, Fischer G (2016) Pharmacists’ knowledge about use of topical corticosteroids in atopic dermatitis: pre and post continuing professional development education. Australas J Dermatol 57:199–204. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajd.12339
Tilden VP, Nelson CA, May BA (1990) Use of qualitative methods to enhance content validity. Nurs Res 39:172–175. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006199-199005000-00015
Tosti A, Iorizzo M, Botta GL, Milani M (2006) Efficacy and safety of a new clobetasol propionate 0.05% foam in alopecia areata: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 20:1243–1247. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-3083.2006.01781.x
Tucker R (2012) Community pharmacists’ perceptions of the skin conditions they encounter and how they view their role in dermatological care. Int J Pharm Pract 20:344–346. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-7174.2012.00212.x
Uppal R, Sharma S, Bhowmik S, Sharma P, Kaur S (1991) Topical corticosteroids usage in dermatology. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol 29:48–50
Woodson J (2009) The role of low-potency topical steroids in day-to-day practice. Skin and Aging Supplement of December:1–8
Acknowledgements
We appreciate the participation of our colleagues in this research, who supported our work and helped us obtain better quality results. This survey did not receive any type of grant from any funding agencies in the commercial, public, or not-for-profit sectors.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
SA designed the study. SA and MS were responsible for data collection. AJ analyzed and interpreted the data. AJ and FE drafted the manuscript. All authors reviewed and approved the manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Ethical approval
The study was approved by the Ajman University Institutional Ethical Review Committee.
Informed consent
Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jairoun, A.A., Al-Hemyari, S.S., El-Dahiyat, F. et al. GAP analysis of pharmacy curriculum regarding topical corticosteroid use and safety. J Public Health (Berl.) 29, 1291–1299 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-020-01245-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-020-01245-8