Parental perception of Use of steroid in atopic eczema – how to improve health literacy
Samar ZAKI, Shazia MUHAMMAD WALI and Iffat AHMED
Children commonly present in primary care with varying degree of atopic eczema. Topical steroid and Emollients are regularly prescribed. We have also noted treatment failure in our clinical practice. This could be due to poor adherence with therapy. Lack of knowledge about the treatment of use of topical steroid, fear of real or imaginary side effects, under prescribing are the main causes of treatment failure.We aim to audit the prescribing habits of 12 doctors randomly selected and independently assessed by one of the authors who was not involved in the treatment plan. We recorded the type of treatment offered. One patient was excluded from the study due to hospital shared care management. 61 patients under the age of 16, selected from practice database. 21/60 had weakly potent TCSs remaining had moderately potent steroid were used then All parents were invited to fill up dermatology quality of index via electronic messaging system to improve parents understanding and improve treatment adeherenceOriginal work under taken at Sangam Surgery. London UKAll primary care physicians prescribed steroid/antimicrobial combinations than the constituent steroid alone. Parents reported lack of knowledge of the strength of topical steroid Dose used were twice a day. 60% Parents felt antibiotics would better that steroid.Practice based learning Parents and their carers must receive adequate information and training in how and when to use topical therapies in conjunction with written care plans or using electronic messaging system. The major cause of treatment failures in atopic dermatitis are multifactorials in this cohort. We found that Knowledge from social media had profound effect on use of Topical steroid. Many parents were afraid of side‐effects from steroid use.Parents were also gathered knowledge from social media. We have developed using NICE guidelines to educate the parents. Dermatology Quality of Index could address lack of knowledge about treatment, in particular the use of topical steroid therapy
