Table 2.

Palatability of oral corticosteroids in SA

Total number of patients (n=122)			No	Taste of medication			Mean of taste score (1–5)*	SD	95% CI for mean	p-Value
				Dislike very much (%)	Dislike a little (%)	Not sure or neutral (%)
Day 1	n=122	Prednisolone base	52	46 (89)	6 (11)	0	1.12	0.32	(1.03 to 1.21)	<0.0001†‡
		Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate	37	18 (49)	15 (40)	4 (11)	1.62	0.68	(1.39 to 1.85)
		Dexamethasone	33	9 (27)	16 (49)	8 (24)	1.97	0.73	(1.71 to 2.23)
Day 2	n=82	Prednisolone base	45	29 (64)	13 (29)	3 (7)	1.42	0.62	(1.24 to 1.61)	<0.0001*
		Prednisolone sodium phosphate	37	4 (11)	25 (68)	8 (21)	2.11	0.57	(1.92 to 2.30)
Day 3	n=74	Prednisolone base	42	17 (40)	22 (53)	3 (7)	1.67	0.61	(1.48 to 1.86)	<0.0001*
		Prednisolone sodium phosphate	32	1 (3)	18 (56)	13 (41)	2.38	0.55	(2.18 to 2.57)
Day 4	n=11	Prednisolone base	10	1 (10)	7 (70)	2 (20)	2.1	0.57	(1.69 to 2.51)	0.364±
		Prednisolone sodium phosphate	1	0	0	1 (100)	3	–	–
Day 5	n=5	Prednisolone base	5	0	3 (60)	2 (40)	2.4	0.54	–	–

*1=dislike very much, 2=dislike a little, 3=not sure, 4=like a little, 5=like very much.

†Significant results.

‡Fisher’s exact test.

SA, Saudi Arabia.