{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,14]],"date-time":"2026-08-14T20:31:09Z","timestamp":1786739469752,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":24,"publisher":"Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,1]],"date-time":"2026-04-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1775001600000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["lww.com","ovid.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,4]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>\n                    A\n                    <jats:sc>BSTRACT<\/jats:sc>\n                  <\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Corticosteroids are widely used for inflammatory conditions, yet misuse and limited public awareness can cause preventable harm. In Hail, Saudi Arabia, community knowledge appears limited, warranting targeted assessment.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To assess knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and use patterns of topical corticosteroids (TCSs) among adults in Hail, Saudi Arabia.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>We conducted a cross-sectional online survey (October 2024\u2013March 2025) among adults aged \u226518 years. Of 535 respondents, 419 (78.0%) reported prior TCS use and were included in behavioral analyses, while 116 (21.0%) were non-users. Descriptive statistics summarized patterns, and bivariate analyses examined associations between awareness and behaviors.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Prescription use was more common than self-medication (58.9% vs 41.1%), and most users applied corticosteroids once daily (60.6%). Mometasone was the most frequently reported agent (33.9%), although 36.8% could not name the product; acne, melasma, and tinea were common indications. Awareness was moderate: 62.8% recognized potency categories, and 55.4% were aware of adverse effects. Overall, 45.0% reported \u22651 adverse effect, most often mood changes, pruritus, increased thirst\/urination, or skin thinning. Most had discontinued at least once (79.5%); tapering was more frequent than abrupt cessation (58.9% vs 41.1%), and relapse occurred in 23.7%, often within a week. Awareness aligned with safer practice: aware users were more likely to have a prescription (65.0% vs 48.7%) and to recognize adverse effects (73.8% vs 24.4%); prescribed users also tapered more often than they stopped abruptly (67.6% vs 43.9%).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>TCS use is prevalent in Hail and is accompanied by self-medication and important knowledge deficits. Strengthening pharmacist counseling, improving labeling, regulating access to higher-potency agents, and implementing community education initiatives may enhance safety and reduce avoidable adverse outcomes.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.4103\/jfmpc.jfmpc_2218_25","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,23]],"date-time":"2026-05-23T14:01:08Z","timestamp":1779544868000},"page":"1624-1630","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/lww.0000000000001000","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Awareness, knowledge, attitude, and behaviors related to topical corticosteroid use among population in Hail, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study"],"prefix":"10.4103","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Luluh Zamil","family":"Aljaloud","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermatology Department, College of Medicine, University of Ha\u2019il, Hail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Naif","family":"Altamimi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermatology Department, College of Medicine, University of Ha\u2019il, Hail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Reem Marzouq S.","family":"Alharthi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mohammed Saeed Mohammed","family":"Alghamdi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shaimaa Mohammed","family":"Alghamdi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermatology Department, College of Medicine, Ibn Sina College, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Azzah Shakhis A.","family":"Alghamdi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lama Saleh A.","family":"Alghamdi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ibrahim","family":"Alreshidi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermatology Department, College of Medicine, University of Ha\u2019il, Hail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"276","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"R2-20260603","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"259","DOI":"10.1016\/j.abd.2023.05.005","article-title":"Side effects of chronic systemic glucocorticoid therapy:What dermatologists should know","volume":"99","author":"Tavares","year":"2024","journal-title":"An Bras Dermatol"},{"key":"R3-20260603","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"457","DOI":"10.1517\/14740338.2016.1140743","article-title":"Long-term side effects of glucocorticoids","volume":"15","author":"Oray","year":"2016","journal-title":"Expert Opin Drug Saf"},{"key":"R4-20260603","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"934","DOI":"10.1007\/s00108-016-0098-7","article-title":"[Long-term glucocorticoid therapy\u202f:Is there a safe dosage?","volume":"57","author":"Strehl","year":"2016","journal-title":"Internist (Berl)"},{"key":"R5-20260603","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2747","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare11202747","article-title":"Public awareness regarding corticosteroid use and side effects:A cross-sectional study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia","volume":"11","author":"Qutob","year":"2023","journal-title":"Healthcare (Basel)"},{"issue":"Suppl 2","key":"R6-20260603","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S1612","DOI":"10.4103\/jpbs.jpbs_925_23","article-title":"Awareness of side effects of corticosteroids among users and nonusers in Saudi Arabia","volume":"16","author":"Al-Jabr","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Pharm Bioallied Sci"},{"key":"R7-20260603","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3277","DOI":"10.1590\/S1413-81232011000800027","article-title":"Conhecimento dos pacientes sobre os medicamentos prescritos ap\u00f3s consulta m\u00e9dica e dispensa\u00e7\u00e3o [Patient awareness about drugs prescribed after medical appointment and prescription","volume":"16","author":"Oenning","year":"2011","journal-title":"Cien Saude Colet"},{"key":"R8-20260603","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"48","DOI":"10.4103\/2229-516X.112240","article-title":"Awareness about prescribed drugs among patients attending Out-patient departments","volume":"3","author":"Singh","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int J Appl Basic Med Res"},{"key":"R9-20260603","first-page":"1","article-title":"The prevalence of topical steroid use and steroid induced Rosacea among Saudi Population, Hail city:A cross sectional study","volume":"26","author":"Alshammrie","year":"2022","journal-title":"Med Sci"},{"key":"R10-20260603","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"357","DOI":"10.7241\/ourd.20204.5","article-title":"Knowledge, attitude, and behavior in the prescription of topical steroid for dermatological disorders among medical practitioners","volume":"11","author":"Abrol","year":"2020","journal-title":"Our Dermatol Online"},{"key":"R11-20260603","first-page":"337","article-title":"Topical corticosteroids:Choice and application","volume":"103","author":"Stacey","year":"2021","journal-title":"Am Fam Physician"},{"key":"R12-20260603","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1094","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaad.2024.07.1503","article-title":"Prevalence and clinical impact of topical corticosteroid phobia among patients with chronic hand eczema-Findings from the Danish Skin Cohort","volume":"91","author":"Christensen","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Am Acad Dermatol"},{"key":"R13-20260603","first-page":"1686","article-title":"Awareness of corticosteroids'side effects among attendees in King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Buraydah city, Saudi Arabia","volume":"5","author":"AlDhabbah","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Med Dev Ctries"},{"key":"R14-20260603","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"22799036231152327","DOI":"10.1177\/22799036231152327","article-title":"Prevalence and determinants of self-medication practices among general population:A cross-sectional study in Thimphu, Bhutan and Chattogram, Bangladesh","volume":"12","author":"Saha","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Public Health Res"},{"key":"R15-20260603","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"76","DOI":"10.4103\/jdds.jdds_21_21","article-title":"Prevalence of topical corticosteroid use without prescription in Saudi Arabia:A cross-sectional study","volume":"25","author":"Al-Aojan","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Dermatol Dermatol Surg"},{"key":"R16-20260603","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"54","DOI":"10.4103\/ijdvl.IJDVL_84_18","article-title":"Topical steroids:Awareness and misuse among patients, pharmacists and general medical practitioner","volume":"87","author":"Sheth","year":"2021","journal-title":"Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol"},{"key":"R17-20260603","first-page":"FC16","article-title":"Topical corticosteroid misuse:The scenario in patients attending a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi","volume":"10","author":"Mahar","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Clin Diagn Res JCDR"},{"key":"R18-20260603","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"140","DOI":"10.3390\/clinpract12010018","article-title":"Topical steroid damaged face:A cross-sectional study from Saudi Arabia","volume":"12","author":"Al Dhafiri","year":"2022","journal-title":"Clin Pract"},{"key":"R19-20260603","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"541","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaad.2014.11.024","article-title":"A systematic review of topical corticosteroid withdrawal (\u201csteroid addiction\u201d) in patients with atopic dermatitis and other dermatoses","volume":"72","author":"Hajar","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Am Acad Dermatol"},{"key":"R20-20260603","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"383","DOI":"10.1016\/j.annepidem.2014.01.009","article-title":"The global epidemiology of anabolic-androgenic steroid use:A meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis","volume":"24","author":"Sagoe","year":"2014","journal-title":"Ann Epidemiol"},{"key":"R21-20260603","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"em187","DOI":"10.29333\/ejgm\/7617","article-title":"Anabolic androgenic steroid use prevalence, knowledge, and practice among male athletes in eastern province of Saudi Arabia","volume":"17","author":"Aldarweesh","year":"2020","journal-title":"Electron J Gen Med"},{"key":"R22-20260603","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"703","DOI":"10.3390\/medicina57070703","article-title":"Anabolic-androgenic steroid abuse among gym users, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia","volume":"57","author":"Albaker","year":"2021","journal-title":"Medicina (Kaunas)"},{"key":"R23-20260603","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3065","DOI":"10.2147\/CCID.S421282","article-title":"Awareness and knowledge of adverse effects of topical corticosteroids among the general population in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia","volume":"16","author":"Roblah","year":"2023","journal-title":"Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol"},{"key":"R24-20260603","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.4103\/sjcp.sjcp_43_23","article-title":"Awareness and knowledge regarding topical steroids among the general population in Jazan, Saudi Arabia","volume":"3","author":"Makeen","year":"2024","journal-title":"Saudi J Clin Pharm"},{"key":"R25-20260603","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1425","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare12141425","article-title":"Insight into current practices of community pharmacists in topical corticosteroid prescribing and counseling:Cross-sectional survey study from Saudi Arabia","volume":"12","author":"Kurdi","year":"2024","journal-title":"Healthcare"}],"container-title":["Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ovid.com\/10.4103\/jfmpc.jfmpc_2218_25","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,14]],"date-time":"2026-08-14T19:29:12Z","timestamp":1786735752000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ovid.com\/10.4103\/jfmpc.jfmpc_2218_25"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,4]]},"references-count":24,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4103\/jfmpc.jfmpc_2218_25","relation":{},"ISSN":["2249-4863","2278-7135"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2249-4863","type":"print"},{"value":"2278-7135","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,4]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2025-12-21","name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2026-03-09","name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}]}}