Analysis of factors influencing the determination of indications for allergen-specific immunotherapy

Abstract

Objective: To develop a questionnaire and a scoring system for evaluating physicians’ knowledge of allergen immunotherapy (AIT). Methods: Questionnaire was designed using the Questionnaire Star tool. A total of 1024 physicians were assessed, and based on the score divided into accurate judgment and inaccurate judgment groups. Statistical analysis was done, and counting data were expressed as frequen-cies and percentage values. Chi-square test and multi-factor logistic analysis were used to determine influencing factors on the indications for AIT. Results: Physician’s age, grade of the hospital, and pediatric specialty influenced the accurate judgment of AIT indication after adjustment for independent variables (P < 0.05). In all, 80.5% physicians exercised accurate assessment for allergic rhinitis. Allergic conjunctivitis was judged accurately by 47.0% physicians. Bronchial asthma was judged accurately by 71.0% physicians, and atopic dermatitis by 61.3% physicians, with a higher accuracy rate for pediatricians than non-pediatricians for all the mentioned conditions (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the accuracy of judgment between pediatricians and non-pediatricians in terms of AIT for food allergy and dust mite sensitization (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The results of our study demonstrated a high accuracy judgment rate among clinicians for rhinitis, asthma, and dermatitis, and a low accuracy rate for desensitization of healthy people with allergic conjunctivitis, food allergies, and allergen sensitization.