Awareness of topical corticosteroids among caregivers caring for children with eczema

• Published in: Pifu-xingbing zhenliaoxue zazhi
• Main Authors: Lixiao JIANG, Wei DENG, Qian LI, Yuhan WANG, Jianyou CHEN, Sheng ZHANG, Wei SU, Xiaoyan LIU, Gaolei ZHANG
• Format: Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: editoiral office of Journal of Diagnosis and Therapy on Dermato-venereology 2024-05-01
• Subjects: eczema; topical corticosteroid; children; cognize
• Online Access: http://pfxbzlx.gdvdc.com/EN/10.3969/j.issn.1674-8468.2024.05.009

Objective To investigate the awareness and influencing factors of topical corticosteroid (TCS) therapy among caregivers caring for children with eczema, in order to facilitate targeted medication education and improve medication compliance of children and treatment efficacy. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among caregivers of children with eczema who were admitted to the dermatology department of the Children's Hospital Affiliated to the Capital Institute of Pediatrics from December 2020 to March 2021. The questionnaire included caregivers' awareness of TCS and its side effects, children in compliance with TCS treatment, and methods to access related knowledge. The influencing factors of caregivers' awareness of TCS treatment for eczema were analyzed. Results Only 22.22% (38/171) of caregivers were aware of TCS well, while 16.37% (28/171) of caregivers were not aware of TCS at all. Moreover, 9.36% (16/171) of caregivers were fully aware of the side effects of TCS. Caregivers acquired knowledge about TCS treatment mainly from "network" (46.20%), patients or people around them (38.60%) and doctors (22.81%). About 62% (106/171) of the caregivers who took care of the children completely followed doctors' orders, while 35.08% (60/171) partially followed doctors' orders. Small proportion of caregivers (5/171, 2.92%) did not use TCS at all. Awareness of TCS and TCS side effects among caregivers differed with caregivers' age, education level and occupational status (all P<0.05). Likewise, the methods of caregivers to obtain information about TCS treatment and in compliance of doctor's instructions varied with caregivers' age and education level (both P<0.05), but not with their occupational status (both P>0.05). Conclusions Caregivers of children with eczema have little awareness of TCS for the treatment of eczema, and caregivers' awareness of TCS and medication compliance are influenced by age and education level. Clinicians should pay attention to the differences in obtaining information about disease and medication among different population, strengthen publicity and popular science, promote rational drug use, and improve skin health management of children with eczema.