18Feb 2017

PREVALENCE OF MISUSE OF TOPICAL CORTICOSTEROIDS AMONG POPULATIONS IN WESTERN REGION OF SAUDI ARABIA.

  • Consultant Dermatology, King Abdulaziz hospital, Dermatology Department, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
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This cross - sectional study measured the prevalence of misuse and awareness of Western region populations related to topical corticosteroids (TCS) use and its effects. It also compared the variation of level of awareness and use according to gender, age group and level of education. A sample of 458 participants were selected randomly where a well designed validated self study questionnaire was developed for data collection. Collected data was analyzed using SPSS Ver. 20 where both descriptive and analytical analysis was applied. Main findings included that the problem of TCS and its abuse, misuse, and minimum awareness related to adverse effects to topical drugs have been widespread in Saudi Arabia specially at the Western region of the Kingdom. The study recommended to develop a national policy on Non-Prescription Medicines (NPM) and it should be supported to limit self-medication practice among the Saudi population and to increase their awareness relevant to misuse and adverse side effects of topicalcorticosteroids. Future national studies need to explore the safety and effectiveness of using topicalcorticosteroids.


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[Dr. Khalid Al Hawsawi, Samaher Alaauldeen, Nouf Albarnawi, Hana Mashrai, Reham Alosaimi, Haneen Alsufyani, Waseem Alhawsawi and Wafaa Abdulkareem Altaezi. (2017); PREVALENCE OF MISUSE OF TOPICAL CORTICOSTEROIDS AMONG POPULATIONS IN WESTERN REGION OF SAUDI ARABIA. Int. J. of Adv. Res. 5 (Feb). 297-307] (ISSN 2320-5407). www.journalijar.com


Dr. Khalid Al Hawsawi
Consultant Dermatology, King Abdulaziz hospital, Dermatology Department, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

DOI:


Article DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/3147      
DOI URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/3147