Current Allergic Rhinitis Experiences Survey (CARES): Health-care practitioners' awareness, attitudes and practices.

Area of Science:

• Allergy and Immunology
• Primary Care Medicine
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Allergic rhinitis (AR) significantly impacts quality of life despite available treatments.
• Current management strategies and healthcare provider (HCP) perceptions of AR are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess US healthcare providers' perceptions of allergic rhinitis diagnosis and management.
• To understand HCPs' views on patient self-recognition, symptom management, and treatment pathways for AR.

Main Methods:

• A national survey (Current Allergic Rhinitis Experiences Survey - CARES) of 750 US healthcare providers (375 PCPs, 375 NPs/PAs) who treat at least 15 AR patients monthly.
• Data collected on HCPs' perceptions of AR symptom recognition, diagnosis methods, patient self-management, and preferred treatment sequences.

Main Results:

• 86% of HCPs believe patients recognize AR symptoms; 57% report patients self-recognize symptoms.
• Diagnosis primarily relies on history and physical exam (82%), with testing often post-treatment.
• HCPs prefer OTC medications before prescription (Rx) options and consider intranasal steroids (INSs) the gold standard for AR treatment.

Conclusions:

• HCPs perceive AR patients as capable of symptom recognition and self-management.
• Current diagnostic practices for AR rely heavily on clinical evaluation.
• There is a consensus among HCPs that OTC treatments should precede Rx options, with INSs being the preferred therapy.