ABSTRACT Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common inflammation of the nasal mucosa characterized by symptoms such as repeated sneezing, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, and nasal pruritus. Treatment methods for AR differ among physicians. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnosis and treatment of AR among family physicians and otorhinolaryngologists in Saudi Arabia. Settings and Design: This cross-sectional study was carried out from June to December 2024 among family physicians and otorhinolaryngologists in Saudi Arabia through an online survey. Materials and Methods: The survey collected data on the participants’ characteristics, utilization of diagnostic tools, management practices, and patients’ adherence to treatment. Statistical Analysis: Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics for Windows (version 26.0; Armonk, NY, USA; IBM Corp). Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were conducted to identify statistically significant differences among physician groups, with significance set at P < 0.05. Results: The study included 70 participants, 37 family physicians, and 33 otorhinolaryngologists. Otorhinolaryngologists performed anterior rhinoscopy (93.9%), whereas most family physicians relied on symptomatic diagnoses. The skin prick test and serum immunoglobulin E test were more frequently available to otorhinolaryngologists ( P < 0.001). Most participants reported adherence to the allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma guidelines (71.4%). Intranasal corticosteroids and oral antihistamines were the most frequently prescribed regimens in both groups. Conclusions: Variations exist in AR severity assessment and allergen identification is limited due to underuse or lack of diagnostic tools. Developing local protocols, increasing diagnostic tool use, and enhancing patient education will improve outcomes.
Fageeh et al. (Thu,) studied this question.