Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2017 May;9(3):265-271. 10.4168/aair.2017.9.3.265.

Unmet Primary Physicians' Needs for Allergic Rhinitis Care in Korea

• Yang HJ
• Kim YH
• Lee B
• Kong DY
• Kim DK
• Kim MA
• Kim BS
• Kim WY
• Kim JH
• Park Y
• Park SY
• Bae WY
• Song K
• Yang MS
• Lee SM
• Lee YM
• Lee HJ
• Cho JH
• Jee HM
• Choi JH
• Yoo Y
• Koh YI
• Work Group for Rhinitis, the Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology

• KMID: 2371727
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2017.9.3.265

Abstract

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is one of the most common chronic allergic respiratory diseases worldwide. Various practical guidelines for AR have been developed and updated to improve the care of AR patients; however, up to 40% patients remain symptomatic. The unmet need for AR care is one of the greatest public health problems in the world. The gaps between guideline and real-world practice, and differences according to the region, culture, and medical environments may be the causes of unmet needs for AR care. Because there is no evidence-based AR practical guideline reflecting the Korean particularity, various needs are increasing. The purpose of the study was to evaluate whether existing guidelines are sufficient for AR patient management in real practice and whether development of regional guidelines to reflect regional differences is needed in Korea. A total of 99 primary physicians comprising internists, pediatricians, and otolaryngologists (n=33 for each) were surveyed by a questionnaire relating to unmet needs for AR care between June 2 and June 16 of 2014. Among 39 question items, participants strongly agreed on 15 items that existing guidelines were highly insufficient and needed new guidelines. However, there was some disagreement according to specialties for another 24 items. In conclusion, the survey results demonstrated that many physicians did not agree with the current AR guideline, and a new guideline reflecting Korean particularity was needed.

Keyword

Allergic rhinitis; needs assessment; survey and questionnaires

MeSH Terms

Humans
Korea*
Needs Assessment
Public Health
Rhinitis, Allergic*

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