Questionnaire assessing the dissemination and implementation of the ARIA guidelines for allergic rhinitis among Belgian Otorhinolaryngologists.

Abstract

Background:
In 2001, the ARIA guidelines were published to assist healthcare practitioners in managing allergic rhinitis (AR) according to the best available evidence. Very limited information, however, is available on the impact of these guidelines on clinical practice.


Objective:
Four years after publication of the ARIA report, we wanted to assess the knowledge and use of the ARIA guidelines in specialist practice and physicians' characteristics that may influence compliance with the guideline recommendations.


Methods:
All Belgian Otorhinolaryngologists were invited to complete a questionnaire, covering demographic and professional characteristics, self-reported knowledge, use and perception of the ARIA guidelines and 4 clinical case scenarios of AR.


Results:
Of the 258 (44%) Belgian Otorhinolaryngologists who participated, almost 90% had ever heard about ARIA and 64% had followed a lecture specifically dedicated to the ARIA guidelines. 51% reported to never use the ARIA classification, but 62% stated to always or mostly follow the ARIA treatment algorithms. In the clinical case section, adherence to the ARIA guidelines raised with increased self-reported knowledge and use of the ARIA guidelines and among participants, that considered the guidelines more userfriendly. 51% of the respondents were considered as good compliers. Younger age was a significant predictor for good compliance.


Conclusion:
The ARIA guidelines seem to be well promoted and disseminated among Belgian Otorhinolaryngologists, but their implementation remains a challenge. More efforts are required to improve the translation of scientific knowledge into clinical practice and to further identify which factors may influence guideline compliance.

All Belgian Otorhinolaryngologists were invited to complete a questionnaire, covering demographic and professional characteristics, self-reported knowledge, use and perception of the ARIA guidelines and 4 clinical case scenarios of allergic rhinitis. Aim of the study was to assess the knowledge and use of and attitude towards the ARIA guidelines among Belgian Otorhinolaryngologists and to idenify physicians' characteristics that may influence compliance with the guideline recommendations.

- 20/05/2005: first mailing of the questionniare

- 30/06/2005: reminder mailing

- sept 2005- mar 2006: analysis of results

- nov 2005: presentation preliminary results on Annual Meeting of Belgian Otorhinolaryngologists

- okt 2007-aug 2008: preparation article covering this study

- okt 2008: submission article to clinical Experimental Allergy journal (trial registration required)

- Questionnaire