Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding intranasal corticosteroid use in adult outpatients with allergic rhinitis: a cross-sectional study in Sichuan Province, China

Objective This study aimed to investigate the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) regarding Intranasal Corticosteroid (INCS) use among adult patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) in Sichuan Province, China. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire distributed to 262 adult AR outpatients recruited from a tertiary hospital in Sichuan Province, China. The survey assessed demographic characteristics, nasal symptoms, and KAP related to INCS use. Results While most patients (88.93%) recognized INCS as an effective AR treatment, nearly half (49.24%) held misconceptions about systemic side effects from long-term use. Significant knowledge gaps were identified in administration techniques, with less than 40% correctly identifying proper head position (38.17%) or nozzle direction (39.31%). A notable intention-implementation gap was observed between positive attitudes and actual practices. Attitudes were generally positive, especially toward treatment adherence and receiving professional guidance (7.47/10). However, practice adherence was suboptimal: only about 65% consistently followed prescribed dosage/frequency, and performance was poorer for technically demanding steps like using the contralateral hand (50.8%) and directing spray laterally (43.9%). Conclusion Despite positive attitudes toward INCS, significant knowledge deficits and poor practice adherence persist, with common safety misconceptions and inadequate technique mastery observed in this sample. Given the cross-sectional design and lack of confounder modelling, these findings are descriptive and hypothesis-generating. Skills-based education incorporating hands-on teach-back may be considered, but its impact should be evaluated in future multivariable and prospective/interventional studies.