Download Allergy - World Allergy Organization

Allergies in America:
A Landmark Survey of Nasal Allergy Sufferers
Conducted by
Schulman, Ronca & Bucuvalas, Inc.
February 17, 2006
Supported by:
Adults Diagnosed with Nasal Allergies:
Household Screening
Not diagnosed, 86%
Diagnosed, 14%
QA. Including yourself, how many persons, aged 18 and older, live in this household (even if they are not there
right now)? QB. Have any of these persons been diagnosed as having hay fever, rhinitis, or nasal
allergies? QC. How many persons, 18 or older, in this household have been diagnosed with hay fever,
rhinitis or nasal allergies? N=61,655 adults in 31,470 households
1
Current Nasal Allergies:
Household Screening
17%
2%
76%
5%
QD. Has this person/have these persons had symptoms like sneezing, itching, watery eyes, nasal congestion,
or other nasal allergy symptoms in the past 12 months? QE. Does this person/do any of these persons
take any medication for their hay fever, rhinitis or nasal allergies? N=6,315 households with allergic
rhinitis
2
Age of Persons with Nasal Allergies
50%
Screened
Interviewed
40%
30%
25%
21% 22%
22%
20%
20%
17%
15% 15%
12% 11%
10%
10%
5%
3%
1%
0%
18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65 and older
QH. What is the age/ages of the person/persons with nasal allergies, rhinitis or hay fever? N=7,758
QD3. What is your age? N=2,500
Refused
3
Gender of Persons with Nasal Allergies
100%
Screened
Interviewed
80%
65%
60%
60%
40%
40%
35%
20%
0%
Male
Female
QH.
What is the gender of the person/persons with nasal allergies, rhinitis or hay fever? N=4,614
QMGEN. Gender of respondent? N=2,500
4
Diagnosed with Nasal Allergies:
Individual Screening
10%
90%
QS1A. Has a doctor ever diagnosed you as having hay fever, rhinitis, or nasal allergies?
Base: Persons identified as having been diagnosed and symptomatic or being treated for
nasal allergies in household screen N=3,257
5
Current Nasal Allergies:
Individual Screening
32%
1%
64%
2%
QS1b. Do you still suffer from hay fever or nasal allergies? S1c. When was the most recent time that you
experienced hay fever or symptoms of nasal allergies for a month or longer? QS2. In the past 12
months, have you taken a prescription medication to treat your nasal allergies? N=2,933 persons
diagnosed
6
General Health Status
Good
32%
Fair
12%
Poor/Very Poor
4%
Very good
33%
Excellent
19%
Q1.
In general, would you say your health is excellent, very good, good, only fair, poor or very poor?
Unweighted N=2,500
7
Asthma and Allergies
Past 12 months
20%
Not past 12 months
12%
Never
68%
Q3c.
Q3d.
Have you ever been diagnosed with asthma?
Have you had asthma in the past 12 months? Unweighted N=2,500
8
When Diagnosed With Nasal Allergies
25%
21%
20%
18%
15%
15%
14%
10%
9%
7%
7%
5%
5%
4%
50-59
60 and
older
0%
Under 6
6-11
12-17
18-29
30-39
40-49
Not sure
9
Q4. At what age were you first diagnosed with nasal allergies, rhinitis or hay fever? Unweighted N=2,500
Who Diagnosed Nasal Allergies
Not sure
8%
Other
3%
Specialty Unknown
1%
Pulmonologist
1%
Internal Medicine
4%
5%
Pediatrician
12%
ENT
19%
Allergist
20%
Family Practice
27%
General Practice
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
10
Q5. What was the medical specialty of the doctor who diagnosed you with nasal allergies? Unweighted N=2,500
Skin and Blood Tests for Allergies
Neither
42%
Not sure
2%
Blood test only
8%
Both
15%
Skin test only
33%
Q6a.
Q6b.
Were you given a skin test to see what you were allergic to?
Were you given a blood test to see what you were allergic to? Unweighted N=2,500
11
Seasonal or Persistent Allergies
Throughout the year
56%
Not sure
1%
Seasonal
43%
Q12. Would you describe your nasal allergies as seasonal or do they occur throughout the year?
Unweighted N=2,500
12
Allergy Symptoms Worse During a
Particular Season or Time of Year
100%
79%
80%
71%
66%
60%
40%
20%
0%
All
Q12.
Q13a.
Seasonal
Persistent
Would you describe your nasal allergies as seasonal or do they occur throughout the year?
In the past 12 months, have your nasal allergy symptoms been more frequent or worse during a particular
season or time of year? Unweighted N=2,500
13
Season Allergies Are the Worse
100%
80%
60%
56%
45%
40%
23%
21%
20%
0%
Spring
Q13b.
Summer
Fall
During what times of the year are your nasal allergies the worse? Base: Worse at certain times
Unweighted N=1,778
Winter
14
Allergies Worse Outdoors or Inside
Same
51%
Not sure
1%
Inside
9%
Outside
39%
Q13c.
Are your nasal allergies worse when you are outdoors or inside, or is it about the same?
Unweighted N=2,500
15
Symptoms During Worst Month
Post-nasal drip
30%
Runny Nose
16%
28%
Facial Pain
11%
17%
10%
Every day
Ear Pain
6%
6%
Most days
Headache
13%
Itching
12%
23%
Awakened / Unable to Sleep
12%
12%
10%
Stuffed up nose
40%
Watering Eyes
25%
Repeated Sneezing
15%
29%
0%
20%
17%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Q14. During the worst one month period in the past year, did you have (symptom) every day, most days a
week, a few days a week, a few days a month, less than that, or never? Unweighted N=2,500
100%
16
How Bothersome are Symptoms
Post-nasal drip
28%
Runny Nose
33%
26%
Facial Pain
36%
16%
Ear Pain
27%
11%
19%
Extremely
Headache
25%
Itching
26%
18%
Stuffed up nose
28%
40%
Red, itching eyes
23%
38%
30%
Watering Eyes
20%
31%
Repeated Sneezing
20%
31%
0%
Moderately
20%
40%
60%
80%
Q15. When you have nasal allergy attacks, how bothersome are the following symptoms usually --- extremely
bothersome, moderately bothersome, slightly bothersome, or not bothersome ? Unweighted N=2,500
100%
17
Most Bothersome Symptom
Itching
4%
Ear Pain
4%
Watering Eyes
5%
Most bothersome
Facial Pain
7%
Repeated Sneezing
9%
Runny Nose
10%
Red, itching eyes
10%
Post-nasal drip
14%
Headache
14%
Stuffed up nose
22%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
Q16. Which of these symptoms was the most bothersome to you? Base: Had bothersome symptoms.
Unweighted N=2,362
25%
18
Degree of Discomfort from Allergies
Can't Tolerate
38%
Not sure
1%
Can Ignore
6%
Can Tolerate
55%
Q17. In general, when you have a nasal allergy attack would you say that your discomfort is usually something
you can ignore, you can’t ignore it, but you can tolerate it, or you can’t tolerate it without relief? Unweighted
N=2,500
19
What Triggers Allergy Symptoms
Chemicals
4%
Fumes, odors
5%
Plants/Trees/Leaves
6%
Tobacco Smoke
6%
Perfume
6%
Dampness/Mold/Mildew
11%
Animals
18%
Weather
22%
Grass
22%
Dust
34%
Pollen
41%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
20
Q19. What things usually trigger or make your nasal allergy symptoms worse? Unweighted N=2,500
What Triggers Allergy Symptoms (cont.)
Not Sure
9%
Other
6%
Nothing
1%
Air quality/Dry heat/Air conditioning
1%
Virus or Cold
1%
Stress
1%
Insescts
1%
Hay/Straw/Weeds
1%
Outdoors
2%
Food/Drink
2%
Pollution
3%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
21
Q19. What things usually trigger or make your nasal allergy symptoms worse? Unweighted N=2,500
Employment Status of Persons with
Nasal Allergies
Part time
9%
Retired
19%
Unemployed
3%
Student
5%
Full time
53%
Disabled
4%
Homemaker
7%
D6.
Are you currently employed full-time, employed part-time, in the military, unemployed and looking for work,
retired and not working, student, homemaker, disabled or too ill to work? Unweighted N=2,500
22
Do Nasal Allergies
Keep from Working Full Time
Yes
5%
No
36%
Working full time
53%
Retired
6%
23
Q21a. Do your nasal allergies keep you from working full time? Unweighted N=2,500
Nasal Allergies Stop or Limit Working
Retired
6%
No
80%
Limit work
9%
Keep from working
5%
Q21a.
Do your nasal allergies keep you from working full time? Q21b. Are you limited in the kind or amount of
work you do because of your nasal allergies? Unweighted N=2,500
24
Missed Work due to Nasal Allergies
Yes
30%
No
70%
Q22a. Have you missed work in the past 12 months due to your nasal allergies? Base: Employed full time
Unweighted N=1,315
25
Work Interference from Nasal Allergies
Neither
48%
Missed work only
10%
Both
20%
Interfered only
22%
Q22a. Have you missed work in the past 12 months due to your nasal allergies? Q23a. Aside from actually missing
work, have your nasal allergy symptoms in the past 12 months interfered with your performance at work?
Base: Employed full time Unweighted N=1,315
26
Work Interference due to Allergies
Some
28%
Little
16%
Moderate
35%
None
1%
A lot
20%
Q23b. On days when you had nasal allergy symptoms how much did the symptoms interfere with your ability to do
your job? Did the symptoms interfere a lot, a moderate amount, some, only a little, or not at all? Base: Full
time, Interfered with work Unweighted N=547
27
Productivity and Allergies
Mean Productivity
100%
95%
80%
72%
60%
40%
20%
0%
No Symptoms
Symptoms at worst
Q24. Thinking about your productivity on a scale of 0 to 100, where 100 means 100% productivity, where would
you rank your productivity on days when you don’t have nasal allergy symptoms? Q25. Where would you rank
your productivity on the same scale of 0 to 100 … when your nasal allergies are at their worst? Base:
Employed full time Unweighted N=1,315
28
Exposed to Allergens at Workplace
No
40%
Not sure
2%
Yes
58%
N26a. Are you exposed to anything at your workplace that affects your nasal allergy symptoms? Base: Full time
and interferes at work. Unweighted N=511
29
Avoid Activities because of Allergies
Yes
35%
No
65%
30
Q27a. Do you avoid any activities because of your nasal allergies? Unweighted N=2,500
Symptoms During Worst Month
100%
Sometimes
Frequently
80%
36%
60%
36%
38%
40%
23%
44%
20%
15%
26%
13%
29%
8%
0%
Depressed or
blue
Irritable
Tired
Embarrassed
Q30. During allergy season, how often do you feel (ITEM) – frequently, sometimes, rarely or never?
Unweighted N=2,500
Miserable
31
Impact of Allergies on Daily Life
Little
19%
Didn't really impact
14%
Not sure
1%
Some
26%
A lot
15%
Moderate
25%
32
Q31. During allergy season, would you say the condition impacted your daily life …..? Unweighted N=2,500
Nasal Allergy Control in Past Week
Completely
24%
Well controlled
28%
Not sure
1%
Not controlled
5%
Poorly controlled
9%
Somewhat controlled
33%
Q32. Overall, how well would you say that your nasal allergies have been controlled in the last week? Would you
say it was completely controlled, well controlled, somewhat controlled, poorly controlled, or not controlled at
all? Unweighted N=2,500
33
Allergy Symptom Severity in Past Week
Severe
11%
No symptoms
23%
Moderate symptoms
30%
Mild symptoms
36%
Q33. How would you describe your nasal allergies during the last week? Would you say you had … no symptoms,
mild symptoms, moderate symptoms, or severe symptoms? Unweighted N=2,500
34
Other Conditions in the Past Week
None of these
33%
Pink eye
Had
2%
Fever
9%
Skin rashes
10%
Migraines
15%
Earaches
16%
Cold or flu
17%
Heartburn or GERD
23%
Sinus problems
50%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
35
Q37. During the last week have you had ………….? Unweighted N=2,500
Usual Source of Medical Care
Not sure
1%
Other
2%
Clinic
1%
Veteran's hospital/clinic
1%
Company or Union clinic
1%
Hospital ER
1%
Public Health clinic
3%
Hospital outpatient clinic
5%
Doctor's office
87%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Q41. Is the place that you usually go for your overall medical care, medical advice or treatment a……?
Unweighted N=2,500
100%
36
Primary Health Care Provider
Nurse Practitioner
7%
Physician Asst
4%
Doctor
87%
Other
1%
Not sure
1%
37
Q41b. Who do you see most often for your health care, medical advice or treatment ……? Unweighted N=2,500
Specialty of Doctor Treating Nasal
Allergies
Other
2%
Pulmonologist
1%
OB/GYN
1%
ENT
6%
Allergist
9%
Internal medicine
12%
Family practice
23%
General practice
30%
0%
10%
20%
30%
Q43. What is the medical specialty of the doctor that you see most often for your nasal allergies?
Unweighted N=2,500
40%
50%
38
Seen Doctor for Nasal Allergies in Past
12 Months
No, not seen doctor,
52%
1%
47%
39
Q42a. Have you seen a health practitioner about your nasal allergies in the past 12 months? Unweighted N =2,500
Skin Test for Nasal Allergies
4%
19%
5%
66%
7%
Q45a. Has your doctor or health practitioner ever given you a skin test to see what causes your nasal allergies?
Q45b. When was the most recent time you had a skin test for your nasal allergies? Unweighted N =2,500
40
Blood Test for Nasal Allergies
6%
82%
2%
7%
QN46a.
QN46b.
2%
Has your doctor or health practitioner ever given you a blood test to see what causes your nasal allergies?
When was the most recent time you had a blood test for your nasal allergies? N =2,500
41
Shots for Nasal Allergies
75%
11%
2%
9%
2%
QN47a. Has your doctor or health practitioner ever given you nasal allergy shots?
QN47b. When was the most recent time you had nasal allergy shots? Unweighted N =2,500
42
Drops or Extracts for Nasal Allergies
2%
1%
83%
2%
11%
QN47c.
Has your doctor or health practitioner ever given you nasal allergy drops or extracts by mouth or under
the tongue to treat your nasal allergies? QN47d. When was the most recent time you had nasal
allergy drops or extracts by mouth or under the tongue? Unweighted N =2,500
43
Shown How to Use Nasal Spray
14%
31%
2%
8%
15%
30%
Q48a. Has a health practitioner ever shown you how to use a nasal spray for your nasal allergies? Q48b.
When was the most recent time a health practitioner showed you how to use a nasal spray for your
nasal allergies? Unweighted N=2,500
44
Follow Health Practitioner’s Advice
1%
36%
4%
4%
13%
41%
Q49.
Would you say that you follow your health practitioner’s advice on the management and treatment of your
nasal allergies – all of the time, most of the time, some of the time, rarely or never? Unweighted N=2,500
45
Satisfaction with Health Practitioner’s
Management of Your Allergies
3%
57%
7%
2%
31%
Q51.
Overall, how satisfied are you with your health practitioner’s management and treatment of your nasal
allergies? Unweighted N=2,500
46
Changed Doctors due to Dissatisfaction
87%
13%
Q52a. Have you ever changed doctors because you were dissatisfied with their management of your
nasal allergies? Unweighted N=2,500
47
Seen Specialist for Nasal Allergies
14%
76%
10%
48
Q54a. Have you seen a specialist about your nasal allergies in the past 12 months? Unweighted N=2,500
Satisfaction with Specialist’s
Management of Your Allergies
1%
63%
5%
10%
22%
Q54c.
Base:
Overall, how satisfied are you with your specialist’s management and treatment of your nasal allergies?
Seen specialist other than primary doctor in the past year. Unweighted N=265
49
Types of Medications Used for Allergies
50%
42%
40%
30%
28%
27%
20%
10%
3%
0%
Prescription only
Q62.
Non-prescription
only
Both
Neither
For the current management and treatment of your nasal allergy symptoms do you use prescription
medications only, non-prescription medications only, or both? Unweighted N=2,500
50
Non-Prescription Medicine
for Allergies in Past 4 Weeks
100%
80%
60%
49%
51%
Yes
No
40%
20%
0%
Q63a.
In the past 4 weeks, have you used any over-the-counter, non-prescription medicine to give you relief from
nasal allergy symptoms? Unweighted N=2,500
51
Non-Prescription Medicine
for Allergies: Recency of Use
6%
18%
5%
54%
Q63a.
16%
In the past 4 weeks, have you used any over-the-counter, non-prescription medicine to give you relief from
nasal allergy symptoms? Q63b. When was the most recent time that you used an over the counter, nonprescription medicine for relief from nasal allergy symptoms? Unweighted N=2,500
52
Which OTC Medicine Used
Other
36%
Neo-Synephrine
1%
Nasalcrom
1%
Tavist
1%
Chloritrimenton
2%
Alavert
2%
Actifed
3%
Afrin
5%
Cold medicines
6%
Tylenol Allergy
10%
Sudafed
17%
Benadryl
20%
Claratin
22%
0%
Q63c.
Base:
10%
20%
30%
What is the name of the over-the-counter medicines you take/took for nasal allergies?
Used in past 4 weeks. Unweighted N=1,345
40%
50%
53
Satisfaction with Recent OTC Medicine
for Nasal Allergies
1%
41%
3%
7%
48%
Q63f. How satisfied are you with the over-the-counter medicine you used for your nasal allergies in the past 4
weeks? Base: Used OTC for nasal allergies in the past 4 weeks. Unweighted N=1,344
54
Prescription Nasal Spray for Allergies in
Past 4 Weeks
100%
80%
66%
60%
40%
34%
20%
0%
Yes
No
55
Q64a. In the past 4 weeks, have you used any prescription nasal spray for your nasal allergies? Unweighted N=2,500
Prescription Nasal Spray
for Allergies: Recency of Use
1%
18%
24%
7%
14%
36%
Q64a.
In the past 4 weeks, have you used any prescription nasal sprays for your nasal allergies? Q64b. When was
the most recent time that you used a prescription nasal spray for your nasal allergies? Unweighted N=2,500
56
Which Prescription Nasal Spray Used
Other
9%
Naserel
3%
Astelin
5%
Rhinocort
10%
Nasacort
14%
Nasonex
21%
Flonase
41%
0%
10%
20%
30%
Q64c. What is the name of the prescription nasal spray you take/took for nasal allergies?
Base: Used in past 4 weeks. Unweighted N=919
40%
50%
57
How Many Symptoms Relieved by
Nasal Spray
34%
3%
46%
1%
16%
Q65.
Does your current prescription nasal spray give you relief from all of your symptoms, most symptoms,
some symptoms, or no symptoms? Base: Use prescription nasal spray. Unweighted N=919
58
How Quickly Does it Relieve
50%
40%
37%
30%
21%
20%
12%
10%
8%
4%
2%
1%
1%
3-4
hours
5-6
hours
7-10
hours
2%
0%
Within 1
hour
1 hour
2 hours
11-23
hours
1-6 days
Q68. How long does it take for your current prescription nasal spray to begin giving you symptom relief?
Unweighted N=919
One
week or
more
59
Does Effectiveness Wear Off
45%
7%
48%
Q69a. Does your current prescription nasal spray lose effectiveness over the course of the day or night, or does it
remain as effective as when you first took it? Base: Used prescription nasal spray Unweighted N=919
60
When Begins Losing Effectiveness
Not sure
5%
24 hours or longer
5%
16-23 hours
3%
12-15 hours
17%
8-11 hours
20%
4-7 hours
32%
Less than 4 hours
18%
0%
Q69b.
Base:
10%
20%
30%
How long after taking your current nasal allergy medicine does it begin losing effectiveness?
Nasal spray loses effectiveness. Unweighted N=440
40%
50%
61
Satisfaction with Recent Rx Nasal Spray
for Nasal Allergies
1%
49%
4%
6%
39%
Q70a. How satisfied are you with the prescription nasal spray you used for your nasal allergies in the past 4
weeks? Base: Used Rx nasal spray for nasal allergies in the past 4 weeks. Unweighted N=919
62
Satisfaction with Rx Nasal Sprays for
Nasal Allergies
34%
4%
38%
12%
12%
Q70b. In general, how satisfied have you been with the prescription nasal spray you have used for your nasal
allergies in the past? Base: Ever used Rx nasal spray for nasal allergies. Unweighted N=2,033
63
Reason for Not Using Rx Nasal Spray
Recently
Other
4%
Causes nosebleeds
1%
Taste/Smell
1%
Hard to use
1%
Dependence concerns
1%
Interferes with condition/meds.
2%
Don't tolerate
2%
No insurance/Cost too high
6%
Don't like/Prefer other meds.
7%
Don't like sprays
8%
Side effects
9%
Haven't seen doctor/Received prescription
11%
Not effective
11%
Not bad enough
11%
No symptoms
30%
0%
Q71.
10%
20%
30%
Why haven’t you used a prescription nasal spray you take/took for nasal allergies in
the past 4 weeks? Base: Used in past but not past 4 weeks. Unweighted N=1,156
40%
50%
64
Other Prescriptions for Allergies in Past 4
Weeks
100%
77%
80%
60%
40%
22%
20%
0%
Yes
Q72a.
No
Have you taken any other prescription medications for your nasal allergies in the past 4 weeks?
Unweighted N=2,500
65
Other Prescription Medicine Used
Not sure
3%
Other
24%
Fexofenadine
1%
Prednisone/Medrol
dose pack
1%
Clarinex
7%
Claritin Rx
9%
Singulaire
14%
Zyrtec
26%
Allegra
33%
0%
Q72b.
Base:
10%
20%
30%
What is the name of the other prescription medicine you take/took for nasal allergies?
Used in past 4 weeks. Unweighted N=576
40%
50%
66
How Many Symptoms Relieved by
Nasal Spray
23%
1%
50%
2%
22%
Q73.
Does this prescription medicine give you relief from all of your symptoms, most symptoms,
some symptoms, or no symptoms? Base: Use other prescription medicine. Unweighted N=576
67
How Quickly Does it Relieve
50%
40%
30%
25%
23%
20%
14%
10%
10%
3%
3%
1%
1%
5-6
hours
7-10
hours
3%
0%
Within 1
hour
1 hour
2 hours
3-4
hours
11-23
hours
Q76. How long does it take for this prescription medicine to begin giving you symptom relief?
Base: Use other prescription medicine. Unweighted N=576
1-6 days
One
week or
more
68
Does Effectiveness Wear Off
51%
6%
42%
Q77a. Does this prescription medicine lose effectiveness over the course of the day or night, or does it
remain as effective as when you first took it? Base: Use other prescription medicine. Unweighted N=576
69
When Begins Losing Effectiveness
Not sure
5%
24 hours or longer
5%
16-23 hours
7%
12-15 hours
20%
8-11 hours
29%
4-7 hours
24%
Less than 4 hours
9%
0%
Q77b.
Base:
10%
20%
30%
How long after taking this nasal allergy medicine does it begin losing effectiveness?
Other prescription medicine loses effectiveness. Unweighted N=243
40%
50%
70
Satisfaction with Other Prescription
Medicine for Nasal Allergies
1%
3%
52%
7%
38%
Q78.
How satisfied are you with the other prescription medicine you used for your nasal allergies in the past 4
weeks? Base: Used other prescription medicine for nasal allergies in the past 4 weeks. Unweighted N=576
71
Medicine for Allergies in Past 4 Weeks
100%
80%
71%
60%
49%
44%
40%
34%
29%
22%
20%
0%
OTC
Q63a.
Rx Nasal Spray
Other Rx
Any Rx
Any Medication
No Medication
In the past 4 weeks, have you used any over-the-counter, non-prescription medicine to give you relief from
nasal allergy symptoms? Q64a. In the past 4 weeks, have you used any prescription nasal spray for your nasal
allergies? Q72a. Have you taken any other prescription medications for your nasal allergies in the past 4
weeks? Unweighted N=2,500
72
Use of Prescription Meds for
Nasal Allergies
100%
80%
60%
51%
40%
31%
17%
20%
1%
0%
All year
Q79.
Only Part Year
Never take
Not sure
Do you take prescription medicines for your nasal allergies all through the year or only during the times of the
year that your nasal allergies are the worst? Unweighted N=2,500
73
Change Prescription Medicines
for Nasal Allergies
2%
29%
10%
8%
38%
12%
Q81a.
How often do you change nasal allergy medicines ---several times each year, once a year, every few years,
only rarely or never? Unweighted N=2,500
74
Why Changed Medicine for Nasal
Allergies
Other
4%
Not sure
3%
Not fast enough
1%
Haven't changed allergy medicines
2%
Taken off market
2%
Not long lasting enough
2%
Availability/ Convenience/ Free samples
3%
Developed an immunity
3%
Safety concerns
3%
Not covered
3%
Didn't treat symptoms
4%
Cost/co-pay
5%
Bothersome side effects
8%
Patient wanted to try other
11%
Doctor wanted to try other
23%
Not effective enough
37%
0%
Q81b.
10%
20%
30%
40%
Why have you changed nasal allergy medicines? Anything else? Base: Have changed nasal allergy
medicines. Unweighted N=1,723
50%
75
Asked Doctor to Change Medication
66%
34%
Q82a. Have you ever asked your doctor to change your nasal allergy medication because you were dissatisfied
with it?
Unweighted N=2,500
76
Why Dissatisfied with
Nasal Allergy Medicine
Not sure
2%
Other
4%
Hard to administer
1%
Cost/co-pay
1%
Not covered
1%
Didn't provide 24 hour relief
10%
Effectiveness wore off
12%
Bothersome side effects
21%
Wasn't effective
66%
0%
Q82c.
20%
40%
60%
Why were you dissatisfied with that medicine? Base: Have asked doctor to change
nasal allergy medicines. Unweighted N=860
80%
100%
77
How Quickly Supposed to Relieve
Not sure
15%
25 hours or longer
10%
13-24 hours
4%
10-12 hours
1%
7-9 hours
1%
4-6 hours
4%
1-3 hours
17%
Within 1 hour
47%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
Q85. How quickly are prescription medicines supposed to begin providing symptom relief for nasal allergies?
Unweighted N=2,500
50%
78
How Long Supposed to Relieve
50%
40%
30%
30%
21%
19%
20%
16%
10%
10%
4%
0%
Less than 6
hours
6-11 hours
12-17 hours
18-23 hours
24 hours or
longer
Not sure
79
Q86. How long are prescription medicines supposed to provide symptom relief for nasal allergies? Unweighted N=2,500
Effectiveness Ever Wore Off
before 24 Hours
33%
9%
58%
Q87a. Have you ever found that the effectiveness of a product that promised 24 hour relief began wearing off earlier?
Unweighted N=2,500
80
Effectiveness Wore Off:
Multiple Products
4%
33%
9%
16%
39%
Q87a. Have you ever found that the effectiveness of a product that promised 24 hour relief began wearing off earlier?
Q87b. Has this happened with more than one nasal allergy product? Unweighted N=2,500
81
When Does Effectiveness Wear Off
50%
40%
30%
25%
20%
15%
15%
3-4 hours
5-6 hours
19%
19%
7-10 hours
11 or more
10%
3%
3%
2%
0%
Within 1
hour
Q87c.
1 hour
2 hours
About how long after you started taking it does a nasal allergy medicine’s effectiveness begin wearing
off? Base: Found nasal allergy medicine offering 24 hour relief wearing off. Unweighted N=1,461
Not sure
82
Stopped Taking Because
Effectiveness Wore Off
100%
80%
60%
40%
57%
33%
20%
0%
All Patients Unweighted N=2,500
Experienced Wear-off Unweighted N=1,461
83
Q87d. Have you ever stopped taking a product for your nasal allergies because its effectiveness had worn off?
Effectiveness Wears Off Over Time
2%
40%
6%
15%
38%
Q88a. Have you ever found that a product’s effectiveness in treating your nasal allergy symptoms wears off over
time even when you are taking the medicine as prescribed? Q88b. Has this happened to you with more
than one nasal allergy product? Unweighted N=2,500
84
When Does Effectiveness Wear Off
50%
40%
30%
27%
20%
13%
12%
13%
12%
10%
10%
7%
6%
1 month
2 months
0%
Within 1
month
Q88c.
3-4 months 5-6 months 7-10 months 11 or more
months
About how long after you started taking it does a nasal allergy medicine’s effectiveness begin wearing
off even when taken as prescribed? Base: Found nasal allergy medicine wearing off.
Unweighted N=1,364
Not sure
85
Stopped Taking Because
Effectiveness Wore Off
100%
80%
66%
60%
40%
36%
20%
0%
All Patients Unweighted N=2,500
Experienced Wear-off Unweighted N=1,364
86
Q88d. Have you ever stopped taking a product for your nasal allergies because its effectiveness had worn off?
Nasal Allergy Meds Cause Nosebleeds
20%
78%
2%
Q89a. Have any of the medicines that you have taken for your nasal allergy ever caused nosebleeds?
Unweighted N=2,500
87
How Bothersome were Nosebleeds
32%
8%
1%
28%
31%
88
Q89b. How bothersome were those nosebleeds? Base: Medicine caused nosebleeds. Unweighted N=501
Side Effects of Allergy Medicines
50%
Some
Most
40%
25%
All
22%
30%
26%
17%
20%
8%
10%
7%
12%
11%
12%
7%
8%
10%
3%
0%
Bad taste
Q90.
3%
11%
Burning
Dripping
Drying feeling
down throat
2%
2%
4%
Headaches
Drowsiness
How many of the medicines that you have taken for allergy had the following types of side effects --all, most, some, few or none? Unweighted N=2,500
89
How Bothersome are Side Effects
50%
Moderately
Extremely
40%
30%
20%
22%
21%
20%
13%
15%
11%
10%
7%
7%
Bad taste
Burning
13%
12%
12%
12%
Dripping down
throat
Drying feeling
Headaches
Drowsiness
0%
Q91.
How bothersome are the following side effects of nasal allergy medicines --- extremely, moderately,
slightly or not bothersome? Unweighted N=2,500
90
Try to Avoid Certain Medicines
62%
1%
36%
91
Q100a. Are there any nasal allergy medications that you try to avoid using? Unweighted N=2,500
Reason Stopped Taking
Nasal Allergy Prescription
None of these
39%
Hard to administer
3%
Dosing schedule was difficult
4%
Co-pay was too high
11%
Not covered
14%
Bothersome side effects
25%
Didn't provide 24 hour relief
32%
Effectiveness began wearing off
35%
Didn't find it effective
37%
0%
Q94.
10%
20%
30%
Have you ever stopped taking a nasal allergy medicine prescribed by your doctor because….
Unweighted N=2,500
40%
50%
92
Tell Doctor when Stop Taking Rx Meds
51%
1%
48%
Q95.
When you have stopped taking a nasal allergy medicine for one of these reasons, do you always tell your
doctor right away? Base: Have stopped taking nasal allergy medicine prescribed by doctor.
Unweighted N=1,490
93
Get Money’s Worth from Rx Meds
55%
10%
34%
Q97. Overall, do you feel that patients get their money’s worth out of prescription medicines for nasal allergies?
Unweighted N=2,500
94
Most Important for Nasal Allergy
Medicine
Not sure
1%
Low cost
5%
Few side effects
6%
Easy to take
2%
Complete symptom relief
37%
Long lasting relief
32%
Fast symptom relief
17%
0%
10%
20%
30%
Q98. In choosing a nasal allergy medicine, which would be the most important to you …?
Unweighted N=2,500
40%
50%
95
Important for Nasal Allergy Medicine
Not sure
1% 1%
Most
Low cost
5%
Few side effects
6%
Easy to take
2%
13%
13%
4%
Complete symptom
relief
37%
Long lasting relief
15%
32%
Fast symptom relief
17%
0%
Next
30%
22%
20%
40%
60%
Q98. In choosing a nasal allergy medicine, which would be the most important to you …?
Q99. What would be the next most important to you? Unweighted N=2,500
80%
100%
96
How Many Symptoms
Relieved for Success
8%
53%
4%
1%
1%
33%
Q101.
How many symptoms would a nasal allergy medicine have to relieve for you to consider it a successful
treatment --- all, most, some, a few or none? Unweighted N=2,500
97
Percent Relief for Success
100%
85%
86%
All Patients N=2,500
No symtoms
84%
85%
Mild symptoms
Moderate symptoms
83%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Severe symptoms
Q102. On a scale of 0 to 100 percent, what percent symptom relief would you expect from a nasal allergy
medicine for it to be considered a successful treatment? Q33. How would you describe your nasal allergy
symptoms in the past week?
98
How Quickly Must Relieve
Not sure
5%
11 hours or longer
8%
7-10 hours
1%
5-6 hours
1%
3-4 hours
4%
2 hours
10%
1 hour
27%
Within 1 hour
43%
0%
Q103.
10%
20%
30%
40%
How quickly after taking would a nasal allergy medicine have to begin relieving symptoms for you to
consider it a successful treatment? Unweighted N=2,500
50%
99
How Long Must Last
Not sure
3%
24 hours or longer
27%
16-23 hours
5%
12-15 hours
24%
8-11 hours
18%
4-7 hours
18%
Less than 4 hours
5%
0%
Q104.
10%
20%
30%
40%
How long after you take a dose of nasal allergy medicine should symptom relief last for you to consider it a
successful treatment? Unweighted N=2,500
50%
100
Failed to Follow Physician Instructions
Doctor's instructions hard
to follow
3%
Poor toleration
19%
Concern about long term
use
19%
Cost of drugs
21%
Worry about side effects
22%
Troublesome side effects
27%
Lack of symptoms
35%
Loss of effectiveness over
time
37%
Lack of symptom relief
41%
0%
Q108.
10%
20%
30%
40%
People with nasal allergies sometimes fail to follow their physician’s instructions about their medicines
for allergies. Have you ever failed to take an allergy medicine as prescribed because of ……
Unweighted N=2,500
50%
101
Allergies Impact on
Activities with Children
10%
87%
3%
Q109b. Do your nasal allergies interfere with activities that you would like to do with the children? Q109c.
Do your nasal allergies ever make you feel guilty when they interfere with activities with the
children? Base: Children under 18 Unweighted N=882
102
Attitudes about Nasal Allergies
Nasal allegies can cause
sinus infections
64%
Nasal allergies can make
asthma worse
21%
56%
Frequent nasal allergy
symptoms can be
prevented
22%
19%
36%
Agree strongly
There are no truly effective
treatments for nasal
allergies
15%
Nasal allergies usually
cause some lifestyle
limitations
Agree somewhat
20%
28%
43%
Nasal allergies are serious
health problem in US
55%
0%
20%
29%
40%
60%
Q110. Now I am going to read you a series of statements. As I read each statement , please tell me
whether you agree strongly, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat or disagree strongly with
the statement. Unweighted N=2,500
80%
100%
103
Source of Health Insurance
Not covered
Not sure
11%
1%
Other
2%
Military/VA/Champus
3%
Medicaid
5%
Medicare
14%
Bought directly by you
14%
Through work, school or
union
67%
0%
20%
40%
60%
Q111a. Do you have any sort of health insurance or health plan to cover your health care costs?
Q111c. Is your coverage under that/those plans from ….. Unweighted N=2,500
80%
100%
104
How Much of Prescription Drug Costs
Covered
19%
3%
4%
3%
50%
11%
10%
Q111d. How much of the costs of your prescription drugs is covered by your health plan --all, most, some, little or none? Unweighted N=2,500
105
Insurance Restricts Type Of Medicine
59%
10%
11%
20%
Q111f. Does your insurance restrict your doctor from prescribing specific nasal allergy medications for you?
Unweighted N=2,500
106
Need for Patient Education
40%
7%
2%
49%
3%
Q113.
How much need do you think there is for better education of people with nasal allergies
about their condition and its treatment? Unweighted N=2,500
107
Family History of Nasal Allergies
Not sure
2%
17%
None of these
Grandparents
13%
Children
46%
Brothers or sisters
49%
Mother
37%
Father
27%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
108
Q116. Do any of the following relatives of yours have nasal allergies? Unweighted N=2,500
Pets in the Household
No pets in house
44%
Other
2%
Rabbit
1%
Hamster/gerbil
1%
Fish
2%
Bird
3%
Cat
28%
Dog
40%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
109
Q117a. Do you have any pets living in your house? Q117b. What kind of pet or pets? Unweighted N=2,500
Smokers in Household
76%
24%
110
Q118a. Does anyone in your household smoke? Unweighted N=2,500
Allergies in America:
Survey of Health Professionals
Conducted by
Schulman, Ronca & Bucuvalas, Inc.
February 28, 2006
Supported by:
Study Design
Population
Sampling Frame
Interview Length
Completed
Sample
Population Aged 18+
National RDD
34.8 minutes
2,500
AMA/AOA Master
List
19.4 minutes
Cross-section: 1/5/06-1/31/06
Health Professional Survey
-- Adult Primary Care
-- Allergy
-- Otolaryngology
-- Nurse practitioner
-- Physician assistant
100
100
100
50
50
Physician Survey: 1/17/06-2/14/06
112
Health Provider Type
50%
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
25%
25%
25%
20%
15%
13%
13%
Nurse
Practitioner
Physician Asst
10%
5%
0%
ENT
Base: Total completed interviews N=400
Allergist
Primary care
113
Primary Ambulatory Care Setting
Other
1%
Hospital Outpatient
1%
4%
Nurse Prac./Physician Asst.
Primary care
Allergist
ENT
6%
2%
2%
4%
HMO
1%
34%
6%
Clinic
1%
2%
16%
22%
Multi-specialty group
10%
17%
18%
Single-specialty
group
25%
44%
44%
19%
41%
Solo practice
45%
34%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Q3. In what type of ambulatory care setting do you spend MOST of your (out-patient) patient care time during a
usual work week? Is it… N=400
45%
50%
114
Patients Seen on Outpatient Basis
120
113
103
97
Weekly average
100
80
80
60
40
20
0
ENT
Allergist
Primary Care
Nurse
Prac./Physician
Asst
115
Q4.
In an average week, about how many patients do you see on an outpatient basis? N=400
Percent of Patients with Rhinitis
100%
Weekly average
80%
64%
60%
40%
33%
22%
22%
Primary Care
Nurse
Prac./Physician
Asst
20%
0%
ENT
Q5.
Allergist
About what percent of the outpatients you see each week have allergic rhinitis? N=400
116
How Bothersome are Symptoms
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
Primary care
10%
77%
8%
Allergist
84%
26%
ENT
73%
16%
0%
81%
20%
40%
Extremely
60%
80%
100%
Moderately
Q6. For most patients that you see with allergic rhinitis, how bothersome are their nasal allergy
symptoms? Would you say they are extremely bothersome, moderately bothersome, slightly
bothersome or not bothersome? N=400
117
Most Bothersome Symptoms
22%
90%
90%
Nasal congestion
98%
96%
14%
72%
Post-nasal drip
78%
73%
75%
10%
63%
Runny nose
74%
69%
68%
5%
51%
Watery eyes
57%
50%
Patients (single choice)
Nurse Prac./Physician Asst.
45%
Primary care
10%
46%
45%
Red/Itching eyes
Allergist
53%
ENT
37%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Q7.
Which of the following nasal allergy symptoms are most bothersome to your patients? N=400
PQ16. Which of these symptoms was the most bothersome to you? Base: Had bothersome symptoms.
Unweighted N=2,362
100%
118
Most Bothersome Symptoms (Cont.)
7%
37%
Facial pain
41%
55%
14%
36%
Headache
42%
50%
9%
29%
Repeated sneezing
47%
31%
4%
30%
Itching
Patients (single choice)
41%
37%
Nurse Prac./Physician Asst.
Primary care
4%
Ear pain
31%
Allergist
31%
ENT
45%
0%
Q7.
PQ16.
20%
40%
60%
80%
Which of the following nasal allergy symptoms are most bothersome to your patients? N=400
Which of these symptoms was the most bothersome to you? Base: Had bothersome symptoms.
Unweighted N=2,362
100%
119
Discomfort During Allergy Attack
Patients
38%
55%
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
45%
Primary care
44%
55%
55%
Allergist
60%
ENT
38%
45%
0%
20%
55%
40%
Can't tolerate
60%
80%
100%
Can't ignore
In general, would you say that patients’ discomfort during a nasal allergy attack is usually something they can
ignore, they can’t ignore it, but they can tolerate it, or they can’t tolerate it without relief? N=400
PQ17. In general, when you have a nasal allergy attack would you say that your discomfort is usually something
you can ignore, you can’t ignore it, but you can tolerate it, or you can’t tolerate it without relief? Unweighted
N=2,500
Q8.
120
Patients Missing Work due to Rhinitis
Patients (yes)
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
30%
3%
Primary care
27%
14%
Allergist
ENT
13%
32%
19%
3%
0%
40%
19%
10%
23%
20%
All (91% to 100%)
30%
40%
Most (51% to 90%)
50%
60%
70%
Some (11% to 50%)
Q9.
Among your patients with allergic rhinitis who are employed, how many would you estimate have missed
work in the past 12 months due to their nasal allergies? N=400
PQ22a. Have you missed work in the past 12 months due to your nasal allergies? Base: Employed full time
Unweighted N=1,315
121
Productivity when Nasal Allergies are at
Their Worst
100%
Weekly average
80%
72%
65%
64%
60%
62%
60%
40%
20%
0%
ENT
Q10.
Allergist
Primary Care
Nurse Prac./
Physician Asst
Patients
Thinking about productivity at work on a scale from 0 to 100, where 100 means 100% productivity, where would
you rank the productivity of persons with allergic rhinitis, when their nasal allergies are at their worst? N=400
PQ24. Thinking about your productivity on a scale of 0 to 100, where 100 means 100% productivity, where would you
rank your productivity on days when you don’t have nasal allergy symptoms? PQ25. Where would you rank your
productivity on the same scale of 0 to 100 … when your nasal allergies are at their worst? Base: Employed full 122
time Unweighted N=1,315
Impact of Allergies on Daily Life
Patients
15%
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
25%
34%
Primary care
47%
18%
63%
Allergist
47%
ENT
44%
30%
0%
62%
20%
40%
A lot
60%
80%
100%
Moderate
Q11.
For the average patient with allergic rhinitis, during allergy season, would you say the condition
impacted their daily life a lot, impacted their daily life a moderate amount, impacted their daily life some,
impacted their daily life a little, or does not really impact their daily life? N=400
PQ31. During allergy season, would you say the condition impacted your daily life …..? Unweighted N=2,500
123
Classification of Nasal Allergies
100%
Weekly average
80%
71%
60%
61%
60%
41%
40%
20%
0%
ENT
Allergist
Primary Care
Nurse
Prac./Physician
Asst
Q12. Do you classify the severity of nasal allergies in patients [DOCTOR VERSION: when you make the diagnosis]
[PA/NP VERSION: when you initially see them]? N=400
124
Percent of Patients with Seasonal
Allergies
100%
Weekly average
80%
60%
55%
57%
49%
43%
39%
40%
20%
0%
ENT
Allergist
Primary Care
Nurse Prac.
/Physician
Asst
Patients
Q13a.
What proportion of your patients with nasal allergies would you classify as having seasonal rather than
perennial allergies? N=400
PQ12. Would you describe your nasal allergies as seasonal or do they occur throughout the year?
Unweighted N=2,500
125
Proportion of Patients Classified by
Symptom Severity
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
26%
Primary care
41%
23%
Allergist
34%
42%
34%
35%
ENT
45%
28%
0%
20%
46%
20%
Severe
40%
27%
60%
80%
Moderate
100%
Mild
126
Q13b. What proportion of your patients with nasal allergies would you classify as having…? N=400
Skin Test to Confirm Diagnosis
Patients (yes)
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
Primary care
49%
3%
3%
3%
2%
25%
27%
Allergist
ENT
56%
3%
0%
27%
20%
Always
Q14.
39%
4%
43%
40%
60%
Most of the time
80%
100%
Sometimes
How often do you conduct a skin test, either in your office or by referral, when making or confirming a
diagnosis of allergic rhinitis…? N=400
PQ6a. Were you given a skin test to see what you were allergic to? Unweighted N=2,500
127
Blood Test to Confirm Diagnosis
Patients (yes)
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
Primary care
Allergist
ENT
23%
1%
5%
19%
2% 3%
27%
1% 1%
3%
0%
33%
12%
10%
Always
Q15.
28%
20%
30%
Most of the time
40%
50%
Sometimes
How often do you conduct a blood test, either in your office or by referral, when making or confirming a
diagnosis of allergic rhinitis…? N=400
PQ6b. Were you given a blood test to see what you were allergic to? Unweighted N=2,500
128
Allergy Shots to Treat Nasal Allergies
Patients (ever)
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
25%
4%
Primary care
9%
Allergist
9%
ENT
10%
27%
3%
35%
36%
13%
0%
18%
20%
All
Q16.
44%
44%
40%
60%
Most
80%
100%
Some
Among your patients with allergic rhinitis, do you give allergy shots to or refer patients to get allergy shots
to treat nasal allergies to all, most, some, a few or none? N=400
PQN47a. Has your doctor or health practitioner ever given you nasal allergy shots? Unweighted N =2,500
129
Allergy Drops to Treat Nasal Allergies
Patients (ever)
17%
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
3%
Primary care
4%
Allergist
ENT
7%
3%
3%
2%
0%
8%
12%
6%
1%
13%
5%
All
10%
15%
Most
20%
25%
30%
Some
Q17.
Among your patients with allergic rhinitis, do you give or refer patients to get allergy drops or extracts
by mouth or under the tongue to treat nasal allergies to all, most, some, a few or none? N=400
PQN47c. Has your doctor or health practitioner ever given you nasal allergy drops or extracts by mouth or under
the tongue to treat your nasal allergies? Unweighted N =2,500
130
How Often Show How to Use Nasal
Spray
Patients
31%
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
15%
Primary care
15%
22%
3%
73%
1%
Allergist
72%
40%
ENT
22%
0%
At least once a year
15%
3%
4%
20%
Every few years
55%
64%
40%
60%
80%
100%
When first prescribed/5 years or more
Q18.
How often do you show patients how to use a nasal spray for their nasal allergies? N=400
PQ48a. Has a health practitioner ever shown you how to use a nasal spray for your nasal allergies? PQ48b.
When was the most recent time a health practitioner showed you how to use a nasal spray for your
nasal allergies? Unweighted N=2,500
131
How Often Patients Follow Advice
100%
Most of the time
All of the time
80%
41%
60%
40%
67%
70%
57%
39%
20%
1%
1%
ENT
Allergist
36%
1%
0%
Primary care
Nurse Prac./
Physician Asst.
Patients
Q19.
Would you say that most of your patients with allergic rhinitis follow your advice on the management and
treatment of nasal allergies…? N=400
PQ49. Would you say that you follow your health practitioner’s advice on the management and treatment of your
nasal allergies – all of the time, most of the time, some of the time, rarely or never? Unweighted N=2,500
132
Percent of Patients Very Satisfied With
Disease Management
100%
8%
17%
28%
31%
80%
60%
87%
40%
78%
72%
62%
57%
20%
0%
3%
4%
ENT
Allergist
All (91% to 100%)
3%
Primary care
Most (51% to 90%)
Nurse Prac./
Physician Asst.
Patients
Some (11% to 50%)
Q20.
Approximately, what proportion of your patients with nasal allergies would you say are VERY satisfied with
the management of their disease? Would you say… N=400
PQ51. Overall, how satisfied are you with your health practitioner’s management and treatment of your nasal
allergies? Unweighted N=2,500
133
Effect of Medical Treatment
on Quality of Life
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
41%
51%
Primary care
42%
46%
Allergist
26%
74%
ENT
34%
60%
0%
20%
40%
A lot
60%
80%
100%
Moderate
134
Q21. How much effect does medical treatment have on the quality of life for an adult with allergic rhinitis? N=400
How Often Patients Change Allergy
Medications
Patients
10%
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
8%
12%
20%
Primary care
25%
13%
Allergist
20%
29%
29%
20%
Several times a year
17%
39%
34%
21%
0%
35%
28%
17%
ENT
38%
40%
Once a year
19%
38%
60%
12%
80%
Every few years
100%
Rarely
How often do your patients with allergic rhinitis change allergy medicines – sever times each year, once a
year, once every few years, only rarely or never? N=400
PQ81a. How often do you change nasal allergy medicines ---several times each year, once a year, every few years,
only rarely or never? Unweighted N=2,500
Q22.
135
Patients Ask to Change Allergy
Medicine
Patients (yes)
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
Primary care
Allergist
ENT
34%
1%
16%
56%
1% 5%
1%
63%
13%
61%
1% 9%
0%
51%
20%
All (91% to 100%)
40%
60%
Most (51% to 90%)
80%
100%
Some (11% to 50%)
Q23a.
What proportion of your patients with allergic rhinitis have asked you to change their allergy medication
because they were dissatisfied with it – all, most , some, only a few or none? N=400
PQ82a. Have you ever asked your doctor to change your nasal allergy medication because you were dissatisfied
with it? Unweighted N=2,500
136
Reasons for Dissatisfaction with
Medicine
Not effective
Bothersome side
effects
Effectiveness wears
off
Not covered by
insurance
Patients
Nurse Prac./Physician Asst.
Primary care
Allergist
ENT
Co-pay too high
No relief through
day/night
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Why are patients dissatisfied with their allergy medicine? [Unaided question] Base: Have asked to change
medicine because dissatisfied N=395
PQ82c. Why were you dissatisfied with that medicine? Base: Have asked doctor to change nasal allergy medicines.
Unweighted N=860
100%
Q23b.
137
Reasons for Dissatisfaction with
Medicine (cont.)
Wanted to try
something else
Doctor wanted to
switch
Don't like nasal spray
Cost/Expensive
Dosing schedule
difficult
Patients
Nurse Prac./Physician Asst.
Primary care
Allergist
ENT
Hard to administer
Other
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Why are patients dissatisfied with their allergy medicine? [Unaided question] Base: Have asked to change
medicine because dissatisfied N=395
PQ82c. Why were you dissatisfied with that medicine? Base: Have asked doctor to change nasal allergy medicines.
Unweighted N=860
100%
Q23b.
138
Most Important Attribute of Allergy
Medicine
Low cost
Few side effects
Easy to take
Complete symptom
relief
Patients
Nurse Prac./Physician Asst.
Primary care
Allergist
ENT
Long lasting symptom
relief
Fast symptom relief
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Q38. In choosing a medicine for nasal allergies, which would be most important to your patients? N=400
PQ98. In choosing a nasal allergy medicine, which would be the most important to you …? Unweighted N=2,500
100%
139
Most Important Attributes of Allergy
Medicine
Patients
Nurse Prac./Physician Asst.
Primary care
Allergist
ENT
Low cost
Few side effects
Easy to take
Complete symptom
relief
Long lasting symptom
relief
Fast symptom relief
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
In choosing a medicine for nasal allergies, which would be most important to your patients? Q39. What
would be next most important to your patients? N=399
PQ98. In choosing a nasal allergy medicine, which would be the most important to you …? PQ99. What would be
the next most important to you? Unweighted N=2,500
100%
Q38.
140
Preferred Medicines for Moderate to
Severe Persistent Allergy Symptoms
53%
54%
57%
61%
Inhaled Corticosteroids
Antihis. RX
28%
Antihis. OTC
Antihis./decon. RX
16%
9%
11%
9%
6%
7%
10%
5%
Antichol. Nasal spray
Internasal antihistamines
5%
6%
4%
4%
Oral antihistamines
2%
3%
3%
6%
Non sedating antihistamines
39%
17%
16%
5%
4%
41%
37%
Nurse Prac./Physician Asst.
Primary care
Allergist
8%
4%
1%
5%
0%
ENT
20%
40%
60%
80%
Q31. What class or classes of medication is your preferred choice for adults with moderate to severe persistent
allergy symptoms? [Unaided response] N=400
100%
141
Preferred Medicines for
Moderate to Severe Persistent Allergy
Symptoms (cont.)
Nasal steroids
Medication names
Decon. OTC
Antihis./decon. OTC
Leukotrienes
Decongestant nasal spray OTC
Nurse Prac./Physician Asst.
Primary care
Cromolyn
Allergist
ENT
Other
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Q31. What class or classes of medication is your preferred choice for adults with moderate to severe persistent
allergy symptoms? [Unaided response] N=400
100%
142
Patients Using Intra-Nasal
Corticosteroids
100%
Past 4 weeks
Past 6 months
Past year
80%
60%
7%
40%
14%
72%
72%
58%
54%
20%
36%
0%
ENT
Q32.
Allergist
Primary care
Nurse Prac./
Physician Asst.
Patients
What proportion of your patients with allergic rhinitis are currently using an intra-nasal corticosteroid for their
condition? N=400
143
PQ64a. In the past 4 weeks, have you used any prescription nasal sprays for your nasal allergies? PQ64b. When was
the most recent time that you used a prescription nasal spray for your nasal allergies? Unweighted N=2,500
Symptoms Relieved by Intra-nasal
Corticosteroids
100%
19%
23%
30%
25%
80%
34%
60%
40%
80%
72%
46%
73%
70%
20%
16%
4%
1%
Primary care
Nurse Prac./
Physician Asst.
Most
Some
0%
ENT
Allergist
All
Patients
Q33.
Do intra-nasal corticosteroids give most patients relief from all of their symptoms, most symptoms, some
symptoms, few symptoms, or no symptoms? N=400
PQ65. Does your current prescription nasal spray give you relief from all of your symptoms, most symptoms,
some symptoms, or no symptoms? Base: Use prescription nasal spray. Unweighted N=919
144
Time for Intra-nasal
Corticosteroids Relief
Patients
71%
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
14%
Primary care
43%
23%
Allergist
35%
24%
63%
11%
0%
4%
50%
18%
ENT
12%
17%
53%
20%
35%
40%
Hours
60%
Days
80%
100%
Weeks
Q34.
How long does it take an intra-nasal corticosteroid to begin giving symptoms relief? N=400
PQ68. How long does it take for your current prescription nasal spray to begin giving you symptom relief?
Unweighted N=919
145
How Long Intra-nasals Provide Relief
100%
24 hours or longer
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
ENT
Allergist
Primary care
Nurse
Prac./Physician
Asst.
146
Q25. How long are intra-nasal corticosteroids supposed to provide symptoms relief for nasal allergies? N=400
Do Intra-nasals Lose Effectiveness
100%
80%
Yes
60%
48%
48%
37%
40%
29%
25%
20%
0%
ENT
Q35a.
PQ69a.
Allergist
Primary care
Nurse Prac./
Physician Asst.
Patients
Do intra-nasal corticosteroids lose effectiveness over the course of the day or night, or do they remain as
effective as when the patient first took it? N=400
Does your current prescription nasal spray lose effectiveness over the course of the day or night, or does it
remain as effective as when you first took it? Base: Used prescription nasal spray Unweighted N=919
147
Time Until Intra-nasals Lose
Effectiveness
24 hours or longer
100%
80%
60%
40%
32%
30%
25%
21%
20%
5%
0%
ENT
Allergist
Primary care
Nurse Prac./
Physician Asst.
Patients
Q35b.
How long after taking an intra-nasal corticosteroid does it begin losing effectiveness allergies? Base: Lose
effectiveness over day and night N=139
PQ69b. How long after taking your current nasal allergy medicine does it begin losing effectiveness? Base: Nasal
spray loses effectiveness. Unweighted N=440
148
Intra-Nasal Corticosteroids Wear Off Over
Time
100%
80%
60%
55%
54%
54%
Primary Care
Nurse
Prac./Physician
Asst
Yes
50%
40%
20%
0%
ENT
Allergist
Q27a. Have you ever found that the effectiveness of intra-nasal corticosteroid products in treating nasal allergy
symptoms wears off over time, even when taking the medicine as prescribed? N=400
149
Time Until Intra-nasal Corticosteroids
Wear Off
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
26%
Primary care
17%
Allergist
4%
11%
26%
ENT
16%
0%
48%
54%
16%
36%
7%
56%
20%
40%
Hours
60%
Days
80%
100%
Weeks
Q27b. About how long after the patient starts taking an intra-nasal corticosteroid does its effectiveness for allergy
symptoms begin wearing off, even when being taken as prescribed? Base: Effectiveness wears off N=213
150
Side Effects of
Intranasal Corticosteroids
Drowsiness
6%
5%
1%
2%
2%
Headaches
18%
20%
Drying feeling
10%
19%
45%
42%
38%
34%
Dripping down throat
Nurse Prac./Physician Asst.
13%
12%
Burning
Primary care
4%
3%
Allergist
31%
20%
Bad taste
ENT
5%
20%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Q28. How many of the intranasal corticosteroids for nasal allergies have the following types of side effects – all, most, 151
some, few or none? N=400
Patients Avoid Any Intra-Nasal
Corticosteroids
100%
80%
Yes
60%
40%
35%
31%
24%
18%
20%
0%
ENT
Q29a.
Allergist
Primary Care
Nurse
Prac./Physician
Asst
Are there any intranasal corticosteroid medications for nasal allergies that your patients try to avoid using?
N=400
152
Reasons Avoid Intranasal Corticosteroids
by Specialty
Other
8%
Don't understand/fear
2%
Don't like it/causes discomfort
2%
Bad experience
2%
Absorbs into system
2%
Drowsiness/sleepy/tired/fatigue
2%
Not covered by insurance
3%
Steroids
3%
Headaches
3%
Dripping down throat
Medication only mentioned
Don't work
4%
5%
6%
Price/cost
7%
Drying/Dried out
7%
Spray up nose
Side effects (not specified)
Burning/stinging
Nosebleeds
10%
13%
15%
19%
Smell/bad odor or smell/Taste
0%
36%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
153
Q29b. Why do your patients try to avoid that/those product(s)? N=108
Satisfaction of Patients with
Intra-nasal Corticosteroids
Patients
34%
38%
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
41%
Primary care
41%
Allergist
55%
57%
39%
ENT
61%
42%
0%
20%
54%
40%
Very satisfied
60%
80%
100%
Somewhat satisfied
Q36.
In general, how satisfied are your allergic rhinitis patients with their intra-nasal corticosteroids? Would you
say that they are very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? N=400
PQ70b. In general, how satisfied have you been with the prescription nasal spray you have used for your nasal
allergies in the past? Base: Ever used Rx nasal spray for nasal allergies. Unweighted N=2,033
154
Patients Avoid Using Intra-Nasal
Corticosteroids for Nasal Allergies
100%
80%
Yes
60%
55%
41%
40%
40%
42%
20%
0%
ENT
Allergist
Primary Care
Nurse
Prac./Physician
Asst
155
Q37a. Do patients avoid using intra-nasal corticosteroids for their nasal allergies?
N=400
Reasons Avoid Intra-nasal
Corticosteroids
8%
Don't like sprays
45%
9%
Side effects
30%
29%
29%
10%
Safety
20%
57%
55%
54%
40%
30%
29%
1%
Nosebleeds
15%
18%
22%
2%
Other side effects
2%
5%
11%
2%
Not effective
10%
2%
No insurance
coverage/cost too much
7%
6%
5%
8%
4%
2%
1%
Taste/smell
8%
2%
0%
5%
Patients
Nurse Prac./Physician Asst.
Primary care
Allergist
ENT
12%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Why do they avoid using intra-nasal corticosteroids for their nasal allergies? Base: Avoid using intra-nasal
corticosteroids for nasal allergies N=178
PQ71. Why haven’t you used a prescription nasal spray you take/took for nasal allergies in the past 4 weeks? Base:
Used in past but not past 4 weeks. Unweighted N=1,156
100%
Q37b.
156
Reasons Avoid Intra-nasal
Corticosteroids (cont.)
4%
5%
Other
4%
2%
5%
3%
2%
Don't give immediate relief
7%
Timing/frequency of use
2%
Too drying
4%
2%
11%
Not bad enough
3%
4%
2%
2%
2%
Don't tolerate well
5%
30%
No symptoms
4%
1%
Hard to use
Patients
Nurse Prac./Physician Asst.
Primary care
Allergist
ENT
5%
1%
Dependence worry
2%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Q37b. Why do they avoid using intra-nasal corticosteroids for their nasal allergies? Base: Avoid using intra-nasal
corticosteroids for nasal allergies N=178
PQ71. Why haven’t you used a prescription nasal spray you take/took for nasal allergies in the past 4 weeks? Base:
Used in past but not past 4 weeks. Unweighted N=1,156
100%
157
Number of Symptoms Relieved for
Success
Patients
33%
53%
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
7%
76%
Primary care
6%
78%
Allergist
6%
ENT
75%
4%
0%
76%
20%
40%
All
60%
80%
100%
Most
Q40.
How many symptoms would an intranasal corticosteroid have to relieve for you to consider it a successful
treatment – all, most, some, a few or none? N=400
PQ101. How many symptoms would a nasal allergy medicine have to relieve for you to consider it a successful
treatment --- all, most, some, a few or none? Unweighted N=2,500
158
Percent Symptom Relief for Success
100%
85%
Mean
80%
77%
72%
73%
ENT
Allergist
71%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Q41.
PQ102.
Primary care
Nurse
Prac./Physician
Asst.
On a scale of 0 to 100 percent, what percent symptom relief would you expect from an intra-nasal
corticosteroid for it to be considered a successful treatment? N=400
On a scale of 0 to 100 percent, what percent symptom relief would you expect from a nasal allergy
medicine for it to be considered a successful treatment? Unweighted N=2,500
Patients
159
How Quick Symptom Relief for Success
Mean number of hours
70
60
59
58
54
49
50
40
30
20
10
0
ENT
Allergist
Primary care
Nurse
Prac./Physician
Asst.
Q42. How quickly after taking would an intra-nasal corticosteroid have to begin relieving symptoms for you to
consider it a successful treatment? N=400
160
Time Intra-nasals Last for Success
Wanting 24-hours or longer (%)
100%
80%
73%
62%
61%
60%
54%
40%
20%
0%
ENT
Allergist
Primary care
Nurse
Prac./Physician
Asst.
Q43. How long after taking a dose of intra-nasal corticosteroid should symptom relief last for you to consider it a
successful treatment? N=400
161
Opinions About Nasal Allergies
64%
58%
55%
Nasal allergies can cause sinus infections
56%
Nasal allergies can make asthma worse
22%
Frequent nasal allergy symptoms can be
prevented in most cases
There are no truly effective treatments for
nasal allergies
38%
1%
1%
3%
2%
Q44.
49%
58%
Patients
Nasal allergies are a serious health problem in
the US
Nurse Prac./
Physician Asst.
Primary care
Allergist
40%
35%
44%
55%
59%
0%
73%
70%
78%
82%
45%
15%
28%
24%
30%
25%
Even with proper treatment nasal allergies
usually cause some lifestyle limitations
77%
79%
20%
40%
60%
ENT
71%
80%
100%
Now I am going to read you a series of statements. As I read each statement, please tell me whether you agree
strongly, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat or disagree strongly with the statement. N=400
PQ110. Now I am going to read you a series of statements. As I read each statement , please tell me whether you
162
agree strongly, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat or disagree strongly with the statement. Unweighted
N=2,500
Patients Get Monies Worth
from Rx Medicines
100%
91%
82%
87%
85%
80%
60%
Yes
55%
40%
20%
0%
ENT
Allergist
Primary care
Nurse Prac./
Physician Asst.
Patients
Overall, do your patients feel they get their money’s worth out of prescription medicines for nasal allergies?
N=400
PQ97. Overall, do you feel that patients get their money’s worth out of prescription medicines for nasal allergies?
Unweighted N=2,500
Q30.
163
Need for Better Education of Patients
Patients
49%
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
40%
57%
Primary care
43%
52%
Allergist
43%
61%
ENT
37%
57%
0%
20%
38%
40%
Strong need
60%
80%
100%
Moderate need
Q45.
How much need do you think there is for better education of PEOPLE WITH NASAL ALLERGIES about
their condition and its treatment? Do you think there is a… N=400
PQ113. How much need do you think there is for better education of people with nasal allergies about their condition
and its treatment? Unweighted N=2,500
164
Aware of Professional Guidelines
100%
88%
80%
64%
62%
Yes
60%
46%
40%
20%
0%
ENT
Allergist
Primary care
Nurse Prac./
Physician Asst.
165
Q46a. Are you aware of any professional guidelines for the diagnosis and management of allergic rhinitis?
N=400
Publisher of Guidelines
13%
20%
ACAAI
40%
15%
11%
28%
AAAAI
57%
56%
3%
4%
Joint task force
22%
3%
AAOA
2%
21%
13%
11%
Other medical society
3%
16%
ERS
2%
Nurse Prac./Physician Asst.
3%
2%
AMA
Primary care
Allergist
5%
ALA
ENT
1%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
166
Q46b. Who publishes those guidelines? Base: Aware of Guidelines N=260
Publisher of Guidelines (cont.)
39%
33%
Don't know
7%
13%
9%
2%
Other
ARIA
3%
5%
Medical journal
2%
2%
2%
2%
AAA
2%
2%
NIH
6%
2%
2%
3%
WHO
Nurse Prac./Physician Asst.
Primary care
Allergist
NHLBI
ENT
2%
0%
20%
40%
Q46b. Who publishes those guidelines? Base: Aware of Guidelines N=260
60%
80%
100%
167
Graduation Year
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
3%
Primary care
25%
29%
21%
Allergist
28%
37%
20%
16%
36%
27%
0%
40%
1950 to 1975
1986 to 1995
D1.
35%
42%
ENT
43%
15%
22%
60%
80%
6%
14%
100%
1976 to 1985
1996 or later
In what year did you [DOCTOR VER: graduate from Medical or Osteopathic school] [NP/PH VER: receive
your license as a physician assistant]? N=400
168
Continuing Medical Education
100%
95%
99%
92%
79%
80%
Yes
60%
40%
20%
0%
ENT
Allergist
Primary care
Nurse
Prac./Physician
Asst.
D2. Have you taken any continuing medical education (CME) courses related to the management and treatment of
allergic rhinitis [DOCTOR VER: since medical school] [PA/NP VER: since receiving your license]? N=400
169
Primary Practice Location
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
33%
Primary care
22%
Allergist
23%
42%
29%
ENT
6%
14%
18%
10%
54%
35%
0%
20%
13%
37%
20%
40%
Central city
Suburb
12%
21%
60%
Small city
80%
Town
3% 1%
6%
1%
100%
Rural
170
D3.
Is your primary practice located in a central city, a suburb, a small city, a town or a rural area? N=400
Gender
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
21%
79%
Primary care
75%
25%
Allergist
76%
24%
ENT
86%
0%
20%
40%
Male
14%
60%
80%
100%
Female
171
D4. Gender N=400