Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39496255›Full record

ArticleDermatology (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Management Strategies and Corticophobia among Healthcare Professionals Involved in the Care for Atopic Dermatitis: A Dutch Survey.

Aviël Ragamin, Karlijn F van Halewijn, Renske Schappin, Willemijn C A M Witkam, Nicolette J T Arends, Jaap Hoogeterp, Arthur M Bohnen, Gijs Elshout, Marie L A Schuttelaar, Suzanne G M A Pasmans

Erratum issuedAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Aviël RagaminDepartment of Dermatology, Center of Pediatric Dermatology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam-Sophia Children's Hospital-Kinderhaven, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, a.ragamin@erasmusmc.nl.
Karlijn F van HalewijnDepartment of General Practice, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Renske SchappinDepartment of Dermatology, Center of Pediatric Dermatology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam-Sophia Children's Hospital-Kinderhaven, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Willemijn C A M WitkamDepartment of Dermatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Nicolette J T ArendsDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam-Sophia Children's Hospital-Kinderhaven, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Jaap HoogeterpPharmaknowledge, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Arthur M BohnenDepartment of General Practice, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Gijs ElshoutDepartment of General Practice, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Marie L A SchuttelaarDepartments of Dermatology, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Suzanne G M A PasmansDepartment of Dermatology, Center of Pediatric Dermatology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam-Sophia Children's Hospital-Kinderhaven, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionVarious healthcare professionals (HCPs) deliver care for patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Although pivotal, management strategies and the relation with corticophobia among HCPs have not been investigated. This study aimed to investigate management strategies for AD and its relation with corticophobia among HCPs.

methodsDutch general practitioners (GPs), youth healthcare physicians (YHPs), pediatricians, dermatologists, pharmacists, and pharmacy assistants participated in a survey on management strategies and corticophobia. The Topical Corticosteroid Phobia questionnaire for professionals (TOPICOP-P) was used to measure attitudes toward topical corticosteroids (TCSs). Higher scores reflect a more negative attitude.

resultsA total of 407 HCPs (124 GPs, 33 YHPs, 51 pediatricians, 56 dermatologists, 58 pharmacists, and 85 pharmacy assistants) participated. Compared to dermatologists, other HCPs showed greater reluctance to TCS. This difference was highlighted by the finding that half of GPs reported to prescribed only TCS of mild potency for infants with severe AD, while few dermatologists (9%) reported a similar approach. Dermatologists had lowest TOPICOP-P scores (median: 19, IQR: 12-28). GPs and pharmacy assistants had highest scores (GPs median: 36, IQR: 31-44, pharmacy assistants: median: 36, IQR: 31-42). More corticophobia was significantly associated with prescription of a lower TC potency class in prescribing HCPs (B -0.04, 95% CI: -0.07 to 0.01, p = 0.01), and a trend was found between more corticophobia and longer perceived durability of one TCS tube.

conclusionsThis study shows the differences in management of AD and reluctance toward TCS in HCPs. Furthermore, corticophobia among HCPs and its influence on the selection of TCS potency class and recommendations were demonstrated. To reduce corticophobia and improve care for AD, more education is needed.

introductionVarious healthcare professionals (HCPs) deliver care for patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Although pivotal, management strategies and the relation with corticophobia among HCPs have not been investigated. This study aimed to investigate management strategies for AD and its relation with corticophobia among HCPs.

methodsDutch general practitioners (GPs), youth healthcare physicians (YHPs), pediatricians, dermatologists, pharmacists, and pharmacy assistants participated in a survey on management strategies and corticophobia. The Topical Corticosteroid Phobia questionnaire for professionals (TOPICOP-P) was used to measure attitudes toward topical corticosteroids (TCSs). Higher scores reflect a more negative attitude.

resultsA total of 407 HCPs (124 GPs, 33 YHPs, 51 pediatricians, 56 dermatologists, 58 pharmacists, and 85 pharmacy assistants) participated. Compared to dermatologists, other HCPs showed greater reluctance to TCS. This difference was highlighted by the finding that half of GPs reported to prescribed only TCS of mild potency for infants with severe AD, while few dermatologists (9%) reported a similar approach. Dermatologists had lowest TOPICOP-P scores (median: 19, IQR: 12-28). GPs and pharmacy assistants had highest scores (GPs median: 36, IQR: 31-44, pharmacy assistants: median: 36, IQR: 31-42). More corticophobia was significantly associated with prescription of a lower TC potency class in prescribing HCPs (B -0.04, 95% CI: -0.07 to 0.01, p = 0.01), and a trend was found between more corticophobia and longer perceived durability of one TCS tube.

conclusionsThis study shows the differences in management of AD and reluctance toward TCS in HCPs. Furthermore, corticophobia among HCPs and its influence on the selection of TCS potency class and recommendations were demonstrated. To reduce corticophobia and improve care for AD, more education is needed.

Indexed as

Adrenal Cortex HormonesAttitude of Health PersonnelDermatitis, AtopicHealth PersonnelPhobic DisordersAdministration, TopicalAdultDermatologistsFemaleGeneral PractitionersHumansMaleMiddle AgedNetherlandsPediatriciansPharmacistsAdrenal Cortex HormonesAtopic dermatitisCorticophobiaDisease managementHealth personnelPatient education

Identifiers

PMID39496255
PMCPMC11965863

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
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.