Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32488277›Full record

ArticleSingapore medical journal2020

Corticosteroid phobia: a questionnaire study using TOPICOP score.

Ellie Choi, Nisha Suyien Chandran, Chris Tan

Open access · diamondAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Singapore medical journal, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 25 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
25citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.1field-weighted citation impact, top 13% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

25 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 41 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Steroid Phobia: A Review of Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Interventions.American journal of clinical dermatology · 2021
    Pooled it
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  5. Corticosteroid Phobia in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis: A Narrative Review.Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Ellie ChoiDivision of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, National University Healthcare System, Singapore.
Nisha Suyien ChandranDivision of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, National University Healthcare System, Singapore.
Chris TanDivision of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, National University Healthcare System, Singapore.
National University Health System · SG

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionTopical corticosteroids (TCS) are commonly used in dermatology for their anti-inflammatory action. The recent development of the TOPICOP© (Topical Corticosteroid Phobia) scale to assess steroid phobia has made the quantification and comparison of steroid phobia easier. The objective of this study was to assess the degree of steroid phobia at our institute and identify sources from which patients obtain information regarding TCS.

methodsA cross-sectional survey was performed of dermatology patients regardless of steroid use. TOPICOP scale was used for the survey. Sources from which patients obtained information were identified and their level of trust in these sources assessed.

results186 surveys were analysed. The median domain TOPICOP subscores were 38.9% (interquartile range [IQR] 27.8%-50.0%, standard deviation [SD] 24.4%) for knowledge and beliefs, 44.4% (IQR 33.3%-66.7%, SD 24.4%) for fears and 55.6% (IQR 33.3%-66.7%, SD 27.2%) for behaviour. The median global TOPICOP score was 44.4% (IQR 33.3%-55.6%, SD 17.6%). Female gender was associated with higher behaviour, fear and global TOPICOP scores. There was no difference in the scores based on disease condition, steroid use, age or education. Dermatologists were the most common source of information on topical steroids and trust was highest in dermatologists.

conclusionThe prevalence of steroid phobia in our dermatology outpatient setting was moderately high, with gender differences. Dermatologists were the most common source of information on TCS, and it was heartening to note that trust was also highest in dermatologists. Strategies to target steroid phobia should take into account these factors.

Indexed as

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeAdministration, TopicalAdrenal Cortex HormonesAdultAgedCross-Sectional StudiesDermatologistsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPhobic DisordersPhysician-Patient RelationsSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultAdrenal Cortex Hormonessteroid phobiatopical corticosteroid concerntopical corticosteroidsTOPICOP scale

Identifiers

PMID32488277
PMCPMC7905116
OpenAlexW2973290700

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.