[Value of patient education in the treatment of allergic rhinitis]

To evaluate the effect of patient education on patients with allergic rhinitis (AR).

From January 2009 to December 2013, 100 cases of allergic rhinitis were treated. The patients were randomly divided into experimental group or control group by Stochastic tables law,50 patients in control group accepted only drug treatment, 50 patients in experimental group accepted both drug treatment and patient education. The difference in compliance with treatment, treatment effect, incidence of adverse drug reactions and complications, average costs and times of treatment between two groups were evaluated by the rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) score. The independent sample t-test and χ2 test were used for statistical analysis.

The patients of experimental group showed more positive attitude to treatment compared to the patients of control group (P < 0.01). The average scores of each classification and overall symptoms after treatment in experimental group were lower than those in control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of adverse drug reactions (nose-bleed, dry nose,nasal mucosa ulcer)and complications in patients with AR (asthma, chronic cough, secretory otitis media) in experimental group was lower than that in control group, with statistically differences (P < 0.05). The average times of treatment and costs of diagnosis and treatment(calculation of budesonide nasal spray)in experimental group were significantly lower than those in control group (P < 0.01). The total score for RQLQ and the scores of seven dimensions in experimental group were lower than those in control group (P < 0.05).

Patient education can help the patients with AR to cooperate actively with treatment, to reduce the incidence of adverse drug reactions and AR complications, and to save medical costs and improve the quality of life.