Assessment of public knowledge of improper application aspects of topical drug preparation use: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Background: In clinical practices, errors in application technique are made while applying topical medications. These errors can result in treatment failure, a reduction in therapeutic response and subpar disease control. The aim of this study was to explore the level of knowledge and attitudes towards application aspects of topical drug preparations amongst patients attending community pharmacies in Alexandria city, Egypt. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence of improper use of topical drug preparation amongst the community in Alexandria, Egypt, by participant interviews with a standardized, three-part questionnaire. Results: A total of 103 participants with a mean age of 34.9 ± 16.1 years were enrolled in the study. 64% of the respondents reported that they had some knowledge to use a particular type of topical preparation. 50.5% stated that the pharmacist was the main source for the provision of instructions regarding the proper use of topical preparations, followed by the physician (34%). 41.7% of the respondents reported errors that were identified in techniques while using topical preparation. Of those, 90.7% reported a technical application error while using topical preparation. 54.4% reported that they did not use a medication leaflet to get information about proper topical preparation use. Conclusions: This study highlights that there are some aspects of application technique errors regarding topical medications encountered by the public. Community pharmacists and other healthcare professionals ought to consider the need for steps to be taken to address patient misunderstandings and avoiding incorrect practices.