Evaluation of Using Pattern of the Topical Agents in Korean Community

한국 외래형 국소용 피부 외용제의 사용 현황에 대한 기초 평가

Topical agents including of steroids are easily exposed to Korean patients in community setting. Those topical agents must be use cautiously because can cause adverse drug reaction unlike other oral medication. We evaluate the using pattern topical agents of Korean in community setting. We performed a questionnaire survey in three different pharmacies (general community pharmacy, dermatology clinic oriented pharmacy, general hospital oriented pharmacy) and in three university town. The survey asked necessity of topical agents, the number of applications per day, application period, site, and exist of steroids ingredient, etc. Total 330 people was participated in the survey from May 1st to July 31st, 2014. We analysed the survey by the frequency of each question and cross-analysis of the compliance between general public and pharmacy groups. In results, Korean people used topical agents for sudden skin diseases (66.9%), was gotten by dermatologist's prescription (89.1%), and did not know their diagnosis (39.2%). The people applied topical agents on face (22.3%), less one half FTU (finger tip unit) per application (61.9%), less than one week (62.9%). Though they was received drug education from pharmacist (52.2%), did not heard about adverse effects (78.4%). And compliance of applied times in pharmacy group was higher than in-non-pharmacy group (56% vs 38%, p=0.002). The highest compliance between 3 pharmacy subgroup was general community pharmacy (76.3% vs 61.6%, 61.2%, p=0.039). Compliance of applied duration was no difference between groups. Majority of respondents did not know diversity of ingredients, potency, application area of topical steroids, and replied to feel some vague reluctance and to think so dangerous about topical steroids. In conclusion, Korean people in community use topical agents well but still some exposed to risk from topical agents.