Prevalence and clinical impact of topical corticosteroid phobia among patients with chronic hand eczema - findings from the Danish Skin Cohort

BACKGROUND: Topical corticosteroid phobia (TOPICOP) is associated with poor treatment adherence and is common among patients with skin disease. Knowledge about corticosteroid phobia and treatment adherence among patients with chronic hand eczema (CHE) is limited.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate patient-reported outcomes regarding topical corticosteroids (TCSs), and their impact on treatment adherence in patients with CHE.

METHODS: Patients with CHE from the Danish Skin Cohort answered a questionnaire including the TOPICOP scale and Medication Adherence Report Scale. Response rate was 69.2%.

RESULTS: Of 927 with CHE, 75.5% totally or almost agreed that TCS damage the skin, 48.9% totally or almost agreed that TCS would affect their future health and 36.3% reported some degree of fear of TCS although they were unaware of any TCS-associated risks. Most patients (77.9%) always or often stop treatment as soon as possible, whereas 54.8% always or often wait as long as possible before starting treatment. Overall, 38.8% reported that they had taken less medicine than prescribed and 54.0% had stopped treatment throughout a period. Treatment adherence decreased with increasing corticosteroid phobia (P = .004).

LIMITATIONS: TOPICOP has not been validated in patients with CHE.

CONCLUSIONS: Corticosteroid phobia is common among patients with CHE and negatively associated with treatment adherence.