Background: Topical corticosteroid (TCS) phobia refers to patients' negative beliefs and ideas related to TCS use. This phenomenon is mostly caused by misinformation rather than an irrational fear, suggesting that the term TCS phobia is a misnomer. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of topical corticosteroid phobia among high educational students in Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the 2022-2023 academic year using a pre-designed online questionnaire distributed through social media applications among university students in Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia. The survey was composed of 13 questions. The data were analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: Among 485 participants, 46% of them were aged between 21-23 years old and 68% were female. Almost a quarter (22.5%) of them has used a topical corticosteroid; 22.9% of them were self-prescribed. Half of the users did not experience side effects and the most reported side effect was local skin irritation. Among non-users, fear of complications and concerns regarding its effectiveness were the most reported reasons that would prevent them from using TCS. Overall, TCS phobia and concerns were reported by 42.7% of the participants. The internet was the most common source of information. Conclusion: TCS are commonly used among young population in Al-Madinah. A considerable proportion was self-prescribed. TCS phobia is observed with misconceptions regarding the safety and efficacy of TCS. Health education is needed for this population to correct these misconceptions with involvement of healthcare professionals.
Keywords: Topical, Corticosteroids, Phobia, University students