Évaluation de l'utilisation des corticoïdes entre prescription et automédication et conseil du pharmacien d'officine (ville de Sétif)

Abstract

Many patients have been treated with corticosteroids at least once in their lives. This class of drugs is known for its many therapeutic effects and is commonly prescribed to treat a wide variety of conditions. Despite their many adverse effects, they are considered irreplaceable drugs in certain situations, particularly those requiring urgent management. The study is a statistical epidemiological survey with a cross-sectional descriptive aim, carried out by means of two questionnaires intended for the general population and health professionals in the town of SETIF (pharmacists, pharmacy employees, doctors, dentists). The aim of this study, which lasted 4 months, was to evaluate the use of corticosteroids between prescription and self-medication and to determine to what extent the patient is advised by his pharmacist or the employees at the pharmacy. Out of 200 patients surveyed, 144 or 72% were between 20 and 40 years old, women represented 65% of the participants, 72.5% of our participants had higher education. The survey revealed that 25% of the patients had already taken corticosteroids as self-medication and the most commonly used molecule was Betamethasone. Inflammation was the main reason for taking corticosteroids with a percentage of 34%. 9.5% of the participants take them for aesthetic reasons. 20% of the dispensations at the pharmacy level are over the counter; in addition to which 26% of the participants stated that they did not receive pharmacy advice on the use of corticosteroids. Half of the pharmacy staff interviewed felt that the demand for selfmedication with corticosteroids was frequent and 40% of the doctors interviewed stated that they had been pressured by their patients to prescribe corticosteroids. In principle, corticosteroids are list 01 drugs, which should not be self-medicated, but our survey revealed the opposite, which means that many awareness-raising actions to limit this phenomenon are essential and that other in-depth studies of this kind are urgently needed.