Intraarticular Steroid Phobia in Physicians: Is There a Basis?

Aim: Intra-articular corticosteroid (IACS) injections are a frequently used treatment method worldwide. Local steroid injections are frequently used not only for osteoarthritis but also for joint, soft tissue, or spinal pain. It is known that systemic administration of glucocorticoids can pose significant risks. There may be significant prejudice against steroids in society. This has been demonstrated in studies on topical steroids. The aim of this study is to investigate IACS phobia in physicians. Method: The TOPICOP score, a validated score, is used to assess topical steroid phobia. In this study, a cross-sectional online survey using the TOPICOP score as a reference was administered to assess physicians' perceptions of IACS use. Results: When comparing survey data, no significant differences were found in terms of age, gender, geographical regions, and institution, while belief scores were lower in surgical branches. Belief scores were highest in the group with 6-10 years of experience. Fear scores were lower in physicians who had previously undergone IACS and those who had performed IAS on their patients. Physicians who had personally experienced IACS-related complications reported significantly lower fear scores, while no significant differences in belief, fear, or attitude scores were observed between physicians who had observed complications in their patients after IAS and those who had not. Conclusion: In our study, approximately half of the physicians (48.5%) agreed with the question "I am afraid of intra-articular steroids." Given that steroid phobia in physicians may influence patients' acceptance of IACS treatment, it is important to investigate the causes of intra-articular steroid phobia in physicians.