Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
Published on: July 10, 2017
Observational Study of Corticosteroid Phobia Using the TOPICOP Score among Adults and Caregivers of Children with
Takeshi Nakahara1, Hiroyuki Murota2, Shinichi Noto3
1Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
Introduction:
Topical corticosteroid (TCS) phobia, which tends to interfere with the continuation of TCS treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD), has not been elucidated in Japan using the topical corticosteroid phobia (TOPICOP) scale. We aimed to clarify TCS phobia among patients with AD in Japan and evaluate its relationship with AD conditions.
Methods:
This observational study, using the database of health receipt (between October 2021 and October 2022) and online questionnaire (conducted in October 2022) data, included adult respondents with and without AD and caregivers who responded to the questionnaire about their children aged ≤ 18 years, with and without AD. The TOPICOP scores measuring TCS phobia were summarized and compared according to AD severity, consultation with a doctor, and presence of AD using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) model (covariates: sex and age).
Results:
In this study, 1507 adults with AD and 525 caregivers of children with AD were included. Among adults with AD, the mean TOPICOP score (± standard deviation) was 42.5 ± 18.9, while it was 41.7 ± 18.6 among caregivers of children with AD. Of the three TOPICOP domains (knowledge and beliefs, fears, and behaviors), the fear domain questions showed the highest percentage of agreement in both adults and caregivers of children with AD. In the ANCOVA models, the scores did not differ significantly according to AD severity, consultation with a doctor, or the presence of AD in adults and caregivers but significantly differed by sex and age (both p < 0.001) in adults.
Conclusion:
We obtained the latest TOPICOP scores that were independent of AD conditions in Japan. Most adults and caregivers of children with AD had TCS phobia, regardless of the AD conditions. Periodic education may be required for a wide range of patients and caregivers to ease TCS phobia and enable them to continue appropriate AD treatment.
More Related Videos
09:32Resolving Water, Proteins, and Lipids from In Vivo Confocal Raman Spectra of Stratum Corneum through a Chemometric Approach
Published on: September 26, 2019
08:25Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment
Published on: December 6, 2024
Related Concept Videos
Antiasthma Drugs: Inhaled Corticosteroids and Glucocorticoids
ICS work through a multifaceted mechanism of action. They suppress the inflammatory response caused by the proliferation of TH cells. They also reduce the transcription of the IL-2 gene, which is involved in the...
Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications
Classification of Asthma
Asthma-IV: Diagnostic and Management
Clinical Assessment for Asthma:
This is the first step in diagnosing and managing asthma. It includes:
Preparedness and Phobias
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Asthma III: Clinical Manifestations