Community pharmacists’ counseling practices and patient experiences about topical corticosteroids – an online survey in the Klang Valley, Malaysia

Background: Community Pharmacists (CPs) play an important role in patient counselling regarding the use of topical corticosteroids. We assessed the CP’s self-reported counselling practices regarding topical corticosteroids and patients’ reported counselling experiences. Methods A previously developed questionnaire was adapted to the Malaysian context. A random sample of 364 registered CPs practicing in three states Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya were invited for an online survey. CPS questionnaire covered CPS’s perceived patient knowledge about topical corticosteroid (TCS) use, CPs counseling practices, and their perceived barriers to counselling. Thirty patients were also selected from five pharmacies i.e., six consecutive patients who consulted each CP were invited to participate in the patient survey by completing a checklist about their experiences regarding the counselling received. Results A majority (> 90%) of the CPs most of the time explained to the patients that medication was TCS and frequency and duration of application but only 10% correctly identified scenarios needing medical referrals. Only about half of the CPs always explained about side effects, strength, efficacy, and storage of TCS. The two main barriers were patients’ negative perception of TCS (65.4%) and pharmacists’ lack of time for counselling (49.7%). Counselling practice score was associated with CPs age (aOR 0.86, 95%CI 0.78–0.94), pharmacists’ recommendation on TCS use (aOR 0.11, 95%CI 0.02–0.61), and time spent on counselling (aOR 1.42, 95%CI 1.13–1.64). Conclusion CPs counselling practices to their patient about the use of TCS requires improvement. Continuing education and hands-on training are needed for CPs regarding counselling about TCS use.