Objective: Finger-tip unit (FTU) has been used in Western countries to apply a specific amount of steroid ointment available in tube form.  Although prescription ointments for treating skin disorders are available in Japan, there are no indications for patients regarding the amount to be used.  Therefore, we investigated the factual assessment of patient compliance instructions on using the ointments given by pharmacists and conducted a comparative test on the amount of ointment in 1 FTU using commercially available ointment tube products.
Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey for 21 hospital pharmacists on patient compliance instructions for ointments.  Using six types of ointments, we measured the aperture area of ointment tube, weight of 1 FTU and squeezing number of tube.
Results: Fewer than 50% of pharmacists explained the application methods and amounts for one-time use when they provided patient compliance instructions.  There were many patients who used an ointment inadequately.  The most were problems about the quantity of application.  Wide variations were found among the amount of ointment in 1 FTU weight and number of available uses.
Conclusion: The survey results demonstrated that the methods used to apply the ointments are items that must also be emphasized by pharmacists when providing patients compliance instructions.  Furthermore, the patient compliance instructions should include the amount of ointment in 1 FTU and number of available uses within pharmaceutical products.