Using Parental Perceptions of Childhood Allergic Rhinitis to Inform Primary Care Management. (July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Garbutt, Jane M.; Sterkel, Randall; Mullen, Kathy B.; Conlon, Bridget; Leege, Erin; Bloomberg, Gordon; Strunk, Robert C.
• Is Part Of: Clinical pediatrics. Volume 53:Number 8(2014)
• Page Start: 758
• Page End: 763
• Publication Date: 2014-07
• Subjects: practice-based research network -- allergic rhinitis; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1177/0009922814533590
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-9228

Abstract

Objective . To describe parents' experience with their child's allergic rhinitis (AR) to inform management by the primary care provider (PCP). Study Design . Two hundred parents with a child 7 to 15 years old with AR symptoms within the past 12 months completed a paper survey. Results . The child's AR was identified as a significant problem in spring (89.3%), fall (63.4%), summer (50.3%), and winter (21.4%); 51.3% had persistent disease. AR symptoms most commonly interfered with the child's outdoor activities and sleeping, and frequently bothered the parent and other family members. Most parents (88.3%) wanted to know what their child was allergic to and had many concerns about treatment options. A total of 62.9% had sought AR care from the PCP in the past 12 months. Conclusions . Many families experience significant morbidity from their child's AR and turn to their PCP for help. We identified opportunities for the PCP to reduce AR morbidity.