Seyed Hesam Nabavizadeh - Allergy Research center, Shiraz University of medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Davoud Almasi - Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Aida Askari - Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Soheila Alyasin - Allergy Research center, Shiraz University of medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Negar Mortazavi - Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Scienes, Shiraz, Iran
Hossein Esmaeilzadeh - Allergy Research center, Shiraz University of medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Background: Asthma is chronic respiratory inflammatory disease with prevalence of ۱۰-۲۰% in children and ۵-۱۰% in adults. Main treatment of asthma constituted of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) which can impede the progression of pathology in asthmatic patients. Potentially side effects of corticosteroids may prevent some patients from taking medication, which can increase exacerbation and and severity of asthma. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and reasons of fear towards corticosteroids in asthma patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study asthma patients viewpoint regarding inhaled and oral corticosteroids in the management of asthma was assessed using questionnaire. Exclusion criteria were the patients afflicted with chronic respiratory diseases other than asthma and the ones who were taking corticosteroids for other reasons. The data were analyzed using SPSS version ۲۵. Results: ۵۰.۷% of patients were male. The mean age of the subjects was ۱۰.۷۱ years and the mean duration of disease and treatment course were ۳.۲ and ۲.۲ years respectively. ۷۵.۴% of patients had regular follow-up. ۵۶.۶% did not know the mechanism of action of corticosteroids in asthma and ۷۵.۴% of patients had concerns regarding the adverse effects of corticosteroids. The most common concerns reported were drug dependency (۱۴.۹%) followed by osteoporosis (۱۴.۳%). ۴۰.۸% of patients claimed that they use corticosteroids with peace of mind if their physician prescribes them. conclusion: ۷۵%of patients had concerns regarding the adverse effects of corticosteroids and the most common concerns reported were drug dependency (۱۴.۹%).

Asthma, corticosteroid, adverse effect, phobia