Abstract
Background: Asthma is a chronic condition characterized by airway inflammation and constriction, leading to symptoms such as breathing problems, coughing, and shortness of breath. The condition affects persons of all ages and genders and can be life-threatening if left untreated, particularly among children. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are commonly used for long-term treatment of asthma patients. It is important to understand how parents of asthmatic children perceive their child’s medication and treatment in order to support the effective management of childhood asthma.
Methods: This cross-sectional observational study collected data from 196 parents of asthmatic children in Al-Qassim region. The participants completed the questionnaire and ensured anonymity. Data management and analysis were performed using the SPSS program.
Results: The findings revealed that the majority of 123 (62.7%) of parents had one asthmatic child; with nearly half (95, 48.5%) of their children being over 5 years old. Most of the children had been hospitalized for asthma 167 (85.2%) and were taking bronchodilator medication (102, 52.0%). The majority of the parents had knowledge about cortisone sprays (144, 73.5%) with a significant number expressing concern about their use (135, 68.9%) and worrying about their side effects (88, 65.1%). The overall prevalence rate of corticosteroid phobia among the parents of asthmatic children was found to be 68.9% (135/196). Statistically significant associations were identified between education level, current use of medicines, and the prevalence of corticosteroid phobia with p-values (p = 0.010* and p < 0.001*) respectively.
Conclusion: The study revealed a considerably higher than average prevalence rate of ICS phobia among the parents of asthmatic children. Parents were concerned about their children using corticosteroids, with social media being the primary source of their worries. This phobia had a significant impact on the adherence to prescribed corticosteroids for treatment or control of asthma, as a notable proportion of parents either reduced their child’s dosage or discontinued the medication altogether.

Key words: Inhaled Corticosteroid phobia, asthmatic children, Al-Qassim, KSA