Table 4.
Pharmacists’ knowledge toward topical corticosteroids and adjunct therapy in atopic eczema.
| Statements | n (%) Correctly Answered |
|---|---|
| Non-pharmacological therapy | |
| Emollients are a first-line therapy for eczema/dermatitis | 102 (97.1) |
| Many emollient products are available with no one product suiting all patients | 99 (94.3) |
| A topical steroid can be applied on the same area as other topical preparations (including an emollient) at the same time. (NB: the correct response was ‘no’) | 79 (75.2) |
| The moisturising effect of an emollient is long-lived (NB: the correct response was ‘no’) | 80 (76.2) |
| Topical corticosteroid indication | |
| Topical corticosteroids are the first-line treatment for flare-ups of eczema/dermatitis | 82 (78.1) |
| Topical corticosteroids have anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects | 81 (77.1) |
| Topical corticosteroids are used to cure eczema/dermatitis (NB: the correct response was ‘no’) | 93 (88.6) |
| Topical corticosteroid safety | |
| The choice of topical corticosteroid potency depends on the severity and site of the condition | 105 (100) |
| Absorption of topical corticosteroid is greatest where the skin is thick (NB: the correct response was ‘no’) | 93 (88.6) |
| Side effects, such as skin thinning, are common even when topical corticosteroids are used appropriately (NB: the correct response was ‘no’) | 46 (43.8) |
| Topical corticosteroids should only be used to treat the worst affected areas in young children (NB: the correct response was ‘no’) | 23 (21.9) |
| Topical corticosteroid application | |
| In general, topical corticosteroids should be used for 7–14 consecutive days | 79 (75.2) |
| Topical corticosteroids should always be applied exactly twice a day (NB: the correct response was ‘no’) | 85 (81) |
| A sufficient quantity of topical corticosteroid should be applied to cover all affected areas | 86 (81.9) |
| The quantity needed for each application can be measured using the finger-tip unit | 95 (90.5) |
| If a topical corticosteroid is needed long term, a regular break in treatment should be incorporated | 93 (88.6) |
| Topical corticosteroid formulations | |
| In the UK, topical corticosteroids are categorised into three potency grades (NB: the correct response was ‘no’) | 39 (37.1) |
| Corticosteroids, androgens and oestrogens are steroid hormones with the same mechanism of action (NB: the correct response was ‘no’) | 77 (73.3) |
| The potency of a topical corticosteroid can be worked out from the manufacturer product packaging (NB: the correct response was ‘no’) | 62 (59) |