Long-term Corticosteroid Use and Lifestyle Advices: A Qualitative Analysis of the Difficulties Encountered by Patients

Introduction: Nearly 1% of the population is currently treated with long-term corticosteroid therapy. When corticosteroids are introduced, patient information concerning the adverse effects and the modalities of prevention by the lifestyle changes is usually proposed. However, studies have shown an imperfect acquisition of this information about treatment and prevention of adverse effects, as well as a difficult implementation on diet and physical activity advices. In this study, the investigators aimed to evaluate the difficulties encountered by patients with dietary advice in the context of long-term corticosteroids use in order to optimize care, drug adherence and the quality of life of patients.

Methods: the investigators will recruite adult patients from general medicine and rheumatology practice and treated by long-term corticosteroids (≥ 3 months, ≥ 5mg/day). the investigators will perform a qualitative analysis in a semi-directed interview.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Patients Traited by Long Term Corticotherapy

Detailed Description

Prospective Qualitative Study Carried out among patients followed in rheumatology and in general medical practice.

For each voluntary patient, a semi-directed interview was carried out in a consultation room after obtaining his agreement.

The same investigator used a single guide and conducted all the interviews based on open-ended questions.

At the end of the interviews, the entire recorded audio data was converted in written form before being analysed thematically.

Data were analysed using a Fisher's exact test for categorical variables (presented as frequencies and percentages), and using a non-parametric Mann-Whitney test for continuous variables (presented as the median and interquartile range, IQR).

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 16

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Montpellier, France, 34000
    • CHU Lapeyronie

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients treated by long-term corticotherapy

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• adult patients taking corticosteroids at an average dose ≥ 5 mg/day of equivalent prednisone over a period ≥ 3 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

• major memory impairment or language barrier.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
the difficulties encountered by patient in relation to the health and dietary advice given by physicians in the context of long term corticodteroid use	To determine the difficulties encountered by patient in relation to the health and dietary advice given by physicians in the context of long term corticodteroid use	1 day

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital, Montpellier

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: April 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 1, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): August 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 25, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 25, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): October 30, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 19, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 17, 2018
• Last Verified: October 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: lifestyle change; diet; therapeutic education; qualitative study; corticotherapy
• Other Study ID Numbers: RECHMPL17_0330

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No