Affiliations 

  • 1 Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
  • 2 Department of Otolaryngology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
  • 3 ORL Department, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
  • 4 Hospital Pakar An Nur, Bandar Baru Bangi, Malaysia
  • 5 Unit of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
  • 6 Philippine Children's Medical Center, Philippines, and St. Luke's Medical Center, Quezon City, Philippines
  • 7 Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand
  • 8 AMSI Doctors Medical Center, Calamba, Philippines
  • 9 Center of Research Excellence in Allergy & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Thailand
  • 10 Sunway Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 11 Menarini Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd, Singapore
  • 12 Department of Immunology, QE Medical Centre, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth Children's Hospital, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
World Allergy Organ J, 2024 Sep;17(9):100952.
PMID: 39262901 DOI: 10.1016/j.waojou.2024.100952

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis (AR) has a high burden of disease in the Asia-Pacific region (APAC). Although guidelines provide recommendations regarding the diagnosis and treatment of AR, it is increasingly being recognised that there are gaps in their implementation. Patient-centred care involves accounting for the specific needs and desires of patients as well as including the patient in the decision-making process, and this may provide a means to reduce these gaps and consequently the burden of AR.

METHODS: A group of 11 experts in immunology and otorhinolaryngology from APAC provided information regarding their practices and experiences in the management of AR through an online survey. The group then discussed the barriers and solutions for the implementation of patient-centred care across the patient journey in a face-to-face meeting.

RESULTS: Key barriers to the implementation of patient-centred care for AR in APAC included a lack of patient awareness of the condition and treatment options, low adherence to treatments, financial constraints for patients, and time constraints for physicians. The solutions proposed include improving the knowledge of the patients about their conditions, the use of shared decision-making, the consideration of patient characteristics when choosing treatments, and the use of outcome measures to aid the optimisation of patient care. We provide specific recommendations for clinical practice.

CONCLUSION: A greater focus on patient-centred approaches has the potential to improve the management of AR in APAC. More emphasis should be placed on each patient's specific health needs and desired outcomes.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.