Knowledge about the safety aspects of long-term steroid use among patients and healthcare professionals
| Response | |
|---|---|
| Patients (n=97) | |
| Regularly carries ‘steroid card’ | 39/97 (40%) |
| Wears an identifying bracelet | 13/97 (13%) |
| Received instructions about ‘sick day’ rules from HCP | 20/97 (20%) |
| Access to parenteral steroids at home | 2/97 (2%) |
| Scenarios of‘minor and major ‘stress’ * | Increase dose: 6 (6%) |
| Same dose: 15 (15%) | |
| Did not know: 66 (68%) | |
| Healthcare professionals (n=84) | |
| Knowledge of criteria for issuing ‘steroid card’ | 17/84 (20%) |
| Advise patients about ‘sick day’ rules at start of treatment | 39/84 (46%) |
| Recommend parenteral steroids for emergency home use | 36/84 (42%) |
| Don't recommend increasing steroid dosage during ‘stress’ | 10/84 (12%) |
| Aware of sources for advice on steroid therapy | 33/84 (39%) |
↵*Heavy exercise, vomiting, fever, infection, surgery etc.
HCP = healthcare professional
There were significant gaps in knowledge and practice, among both patients and healthcare professionals, about the safety aspects of long-term steroid use. This could lead to poor outcomes during times of ‘stress’.