Investigating public perception, knowledge and phobia towards corticosteroids post COVID-19: A cross-sectional study in India

Introduction: Corticosteroids (CS) have been used to treat various inflammatory and allergy disorders for over a few decades. Though the effectiveness of CS is proven, safety concern prevails. The public is now more aware of CS because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but their information sources still need verification. The study investigates the general public's knowledge, experience, and fears about CS, examining their acceptance and validity, and their relationship with factors like gender, age, and education. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the general public of India for six months. An online questionnaire was utilized to collect the perception, knowledge, and phobia towards CS following COVID-19. People who could read and understand English were included in the study. Age, gender, education level, and prior corticosteroid use were tested as predictors for knowledge and corticophobia scores by linear regression. Results: A study involving 472 participants, primarily females and university students, found that less than 32 % were previously infected with COVID-19 and 33 % had used CS for respiratory and dermatological disorders. A quarter of the samples experienced acne and mood changes. The population had a satisfactory knowledge score, but a high phobia score. Corticophobia score was positively associated with side effects and knowledge score, but educational level negatively influenced the development of corticophobia. Conclusion: The study found that, despite having a satisfactory knowledge of CS, participants displayed a high corticophobia score. Addressing this issue requires awareness campaigns, patient education programs, and patient interaction, and educating healthcare workers.