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[Primary care physicians' knowledge about allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma (ARIA guidelines): a comparative
Marilyn Urrutia-Pereira1, Carmen Fernández, Marylin Valentin-Rostan
1Universidad Federal de Pampa, Departamento de Medicina, Río Grande del Sur, Brasil. urrutiamarilyn@gmail.com.
Background:
Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) establishes guidelines for the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) and its comorbidities.
Objective:
To assess and compare the level of knowledge about AR and ARIA guidelines among primary care physicians (PCP) of Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Methods:
336 PCPs (Brazil 109, Paraguay 127, Uruguay 100) answered a questionnaire about personal and professional data and knowledge on RA and the ARIA guidelines; the Google Forms tool was used.
Results:
There was a predominance of females (73, 50.4 and 70 % in Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, respectively); 124 worked in the community and 75 in emergency departments. Brazil and Uruguay PCPs recognized AR symptoms; 67 % of those from Uruguay did not ask about a history of AR diagnosis, 93 % about an asthma diagnosis and 90 % about rhinitis interference with daily activities. Intranasal corticosteroids use: 78, 92 and 54 % of Brazilian, Paraguayan and Uruguayan doctors; 100, 73.4 and 78 % of Paraguayan, Brazilian and Uruguayan PCPs, respectively, did not refer the patient to a specialist; 26.6, 62 and 6 % of PCPs in Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, respectively, knew the ARIA guidelines.
Conclusions:
AR is commonly looked after by PCPs, but the recognition of symptoms and knowledge about ARIA guidelines are low and treatment is not always optimal.