Transcript Allergies in America: A National Survey of Patients with

Allergies in America:
A Landmark Survey of Nasal Allergy Sufferers
Executive Summary
Conducted by
Schulman, Ronca & Bucuvalas, Inc.
February 17, 2006
Supported by:
Study Design
Population
Sampling Frame
Interview
Length
Completed
Sample
Population Aged 18+
National RDD
34.8 minutes
2,500
Cross-section: 1/4/06-1/31/06
Health Professionals
Doctors
-- Adult Primary Care
-- Allergy
-- Otolaryngology
Nurse practitioners
Physician assistants
19.4 minutes
AMA/AOA Master
List:
Licensing Boards
American Academy
of Physician
Assistants
100
100
100
50
50
Physician Survey: 1/17/06-2/14/06
1
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
2
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?
N=2,500
3
Symptoms During Worst Month
Post-nasal drip
30%
Runny Nose
28%
Facial Pain
Ear Pain
16%
11%
6%
Headache
17%
10%
6%
Every day
13%
Itching
23%
Awakened / Unable to Sleep
Most days
12%
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%
4
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? N=2,500
100%
5
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%
Q16. Which of these symptoms was the most bothersome to you?
Base: Had bothersome symptoms N=2,362
15%
20%
25%
6
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? N=2,500
7
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?
N=2,500
Miserable
8
Impact of Allergies on Daily Life
Little
19%
Didn't really impact
14%
Not sure
1%
Some
26%
A lot
15%
Moderate
25%
9
Q31. During allergy season, would you say the condition impacted your daily life …..? N=2,500
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 N=1,315
10
Productivity and Allergies
100%
95%
Mean Productivity
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
your 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 N=1,315
11
Seen Doctor for Nasal Allergies in Past
12 Months by Symptom Severity
100%
80%
60%
47%
40%
55%
57%
Moderate
symptoms
Severe
symptoms
47%
32%
20%
0%
All patients
No symptoms
Mild Symptoms
Q42a. Have you seen a health practitioner about your nasal allergies in the past 12 months? Q33. How
would you describe your nasal allergy symptoms during the last week? Would you say that you had
no symptoms, mild symptoms, moderate symptoms or severe symptoms? N =2,500
12
Medicine for Allergies in Past 4 Weeks
100%
80%
69%
60%
53%
45%
40%
36%
31%
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? Q63b. When was the most recent time that you used an over the counter, nonprescription medicine for relief from nasal allergy symptoms? Q64a. In the past 4 weeks, have you used any
prescription nasal spray for your nasal allergies? Q64b. When was the most recent time that you used a
prescription nasal spray for your nasal allergies? Q72a. Have you taken any other prescription medications for
your nasal allergies in the past 4 weeks? N=2,500
13
Satisfaction with Recent Rx Nasal
Spray for Nasal Allergies
100%
Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
80%
39%
38%
48%
60%
40%
20%
49%
52%
Recent Rx Spray N=919
Other Recent Rx N=576
41%
0%
Recent OTC N=1,344
Q63f.
How satisfied are you with the over-the-counter medicine you used for your nasal allergies in the past 4
weeks? Q70a. How satisfied are you with the prescription nasal spray you used for your nasal allergies
in the past 4 weeks? Q78. How satisfied are you with the other prescription medicine you used for your
nasal allergies in the past 4 weeks?
14
How Many Symptoms Relieved by
Nasal Spray
Some, 34%
None, 3%
Most, 46%
Not sure, 1%
All, 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. N=919
15
How Quickly Does it Relieve
50%
40%
37%
30%
21%
20%
12%
10%
8%
4%
2%
1%
1%
5-6
hours
7-10
hours
2%
0%
Within 1
hour
1 hour
2 hours
3-4
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?
Base: Use prescription nasal spray N=919
One
week or
more
16
Does Effectiveness Wear Off
Does not, 45%
Not sure, 7%
Loses effectiveness,
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: Use prescription nasal spray N=919
17
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 N=440
40%
50%
18
Change Prescription Medicines
for Nasal Allergies
Not sure, 2%
Never, 29%
Several times a year,
10%
Once a year, 8%
Only rarely, 38%
Every few years, 12%
Q81a.
How often do you change nasal allergy medicines ---several times each year, once a year, every few years,
only rarely or never? N=2,500
19
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%
10%
Q81b. Why have you changed nasal allergy medicines? Anything else?
Base: Have changed nasal allergy medicines N=1,723
20%
30%
40%
50%
20
Asked Doctor to Change Medication
No, 66%
Yes, 34%
Q82a. Have you ever asked your doctor to change your nasal allergy medication because you were dissatisfied
with it? N=2,500
21
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%
20%
Q82c. Why were you dissatisfied with that medicine?
Base: Have asked doctor to change nasal allergy medicines N=860
40%
60%
80%
100%
22
Effectiveness Ever Wore Off
before 24 Hours
No, 33%
Not sure, 9%
Yes, 58%
Q87a. Have you ever found that the effectiveness of a product that promised 24 hour relief began wearing off earlier?
N=2,500
23
When Does Effectiveness Wear Off
50%
40%
30%
25%
20%
15%
19%
19%
7-10
hours
11 or
more
15%
10%
3%
3%
2%
0%
Within 1
hour
Q87c.
1 hour
2 hours
3-4 hours 5-6 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 N=1,461
Not sure
24
Stopped Taking Because
Effectiveness Wore Off
100%
80%
60%
40%
57%
33%
20%
0%
All Patients N=2,500
Experienced Wear-off N=1,461
25
Q87d. Have you ever stopped taking a product for your nasal allergies because its effectiveness had worn off?
Effectiveness Wears Off Over Time
Yes, not sure how
many, 2%
No, 40%
Not sure, 6%
Yes, one, 15%
Yes, more than one,
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? N=2,500
26
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 N=1,364
Not sure
27
Stopped Taking Because
Effectiveness Wore Off
100%
80%
66%
60%
40%
36%
20%
0%
All Patients N=2,500
Experienced Wear-off N=1,364
28
Q88d. Have you ever stopped taking a product for your nasal allergies because its effectiveness had worn off?
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
2%
4%
2%
Dripping
down throat
Drying
feeling
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? N=2,500
29
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? N=2,500
30
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….
N=2,500
40%
50%
31
How often Patients Follow Advice
Patients who have not
seen doctor
32%
Patients who have seen
doctor
38%
41%
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
1%
45%
All of the time
39%
Most of the time
Primary care
57%
Allergist
1%
ENT
1%
0%
70%
67%
20%
40%
60%
80%
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? N=2,500
100%
Q19.
32
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 ……
N=2,500
50%
33
Important for Nasal Allergy Medicine
Not sure
1% 1%
Low cost
5%
Few side effects
6%
Easy to take
Most
Next
13%
13%
2% 4%
Complete symptom
relief
37%
Long lasting relief
15%
32%
Fast symptom relief
17%
0%
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? N=2,500
80%
100%
34
Discomfort During Allergy Attack
Patients who have not
seen doctor
33%
58%
Patients who have seen
doctor
44%
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
45%
Primary care
44%
Allergist
51%
55%
55%
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? N=2,500
Q8.
35
Productivity when Nasal Allergies are
at Their Worst
Patients who have not
seen doctor
75%
Patients who have seen
doctor
Mean
69%
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst
62%
Primary Care
64%
Allergist
60%
ENT
65%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Q10.
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
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 time N=1,315
36
Percent of Patients Very Satisfied With
Disease Management
Patients who have not
seen doctor
56%
Patients who have seen
doctor
58%
Nurse Prac./Physician
3%
Asst.
62%
Primary care
31%
72%
28%
Allergist 4%
87%
ENT 3%
0%
All (91% to 100%)
8%
78%
20%
40%
Most (51% to 90%)
17%
60%
80%
100%
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? N=2,500
37
Satisfaction of Patients with Intranasal Corticosteroids
Patients who have not
seen doctor
34%
37%
Patients who have seen
doctor
33%
39%
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
41%
Primary care
41%
Allergist
55%
57%
61%
39%
ENT
54%
42%
0%
20%
Very satisfied
40%
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 N=2,033
38
Patients Get Monies Worth from
Rx Medicines
100%
91%
82%
87%
85%
80%
60%
55%
40%
20%
0%
ENT
Allergist
Primary care
Nurse
Prac./Physician
Asst.
All 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?
N=2,500
Q30.
39
Opinions About Nasal Allergies
58%
55%
Nasal allergies can cause
sinus infections
56%
Nasal allergies can make
asthma worse
64%
77%
79%
73%
70%
78%
82%
22%
Frequent nasal allergy
symptoms can be prevented
in most cases
There are no truly effective
treatments for nasal allergies
45%
38%
49%
58%
1%
1%
3%
2%
15%
Even with proper treatment
nasal allergies usually cause
some lifestyle limitations
24%
28%
25%
Agree Strongly
30%
40%
44%
Nasal allergies are a serious
health problem in the US
55%
35%
71%
59%
0%
20%
ENT
Allergist
40%
Primary care
60%
80%
Nurse Prac./Physician Asst.
100%
Patients
Q44.
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
agree strongly, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat or disagree strongly with the statement N=2,500
40
Need for Better Education of Patients
All 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? N=2,500
41
Aware of Professional Guidelines
100%
Yes
88%
80%
64%
62%
60%
46%
40%
20%
0%
ENT
Allergist
Primary care
Nurse Prac./Physician
Asst.
42
Q46a. Are you aware of any professional guidelines for the diagnosis and management of allergic rhinitis?
N=400
Publisher of Guidelines
39%
33%
Don't know
7%
13%
22%
9%
Other
16%
3%
5%
Medical journal
2%
2%
13%
20%
ACAAI
40%
15%
11%
28%
AAAAI
57%
56%
3%
4%
Joint task force
22%
Nurse Prac./Physician Asst.
3%
AAOA
Primary care
2%
Allergist
21%
13%
11%
Other medical society
ENT
3%
16%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
43
Q46b. Who publishes those guidelines? Base: Aware of Guidelines N=260