Trends, attitudes, and perceptions of Indian physicians in allergic rhinitis management

<bold>Background:</bold> The rising prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) necessitates insight into physicians' perspectives and practices for effective management. <bold>Objective:</bold> Survey aimed to evaluate the management practices and perceptions of Indian physicians regarding AR. <bold>Method:</bold> Survey was conducted from Sep. to Dec. 2023 among 289 Indian physicians from 125 cities to assess the current trends, perceptions of Indian physicians regarding the management of AR, and to identify potential areas for optimization in AR therapy. <bold>Results:</bold> The most troublesome symptoms in AR patients were sneezing (64.01%), rhinorrhea (15.22%), and nasal blockage (13.84%), with significant impacts on sleep (40.83%), social life (23.88%), and working performance (18.69%). Physicians reported 21-40% of their AR patients with difficult-to-control AR. 86.51% of physicians utilized ARIA guidelines to plan treatment. Symptom severity (82.01%), frequency (75.43%), and medication efficacy/safety (41%) drove therapy prioritization. First-line therapy for intermittent mild AR was oral antihistamines (AH). Intranasal corticosteroids (INCS) for intermittent moderate to severe AR; INCS + IN-AH for persistent mild AR. Systemic CS for persistent moderate to severe AR. Physicians noted nasal spray addiction (81.66%) concerns among patients and low patient awareness on disease (11-20%). Medication adherence was low (11-20%), attributed to lack of education (36.33%), written plan (14.53%), and self-medication (15.92%). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> This study highlights AR's significant impact, including troublesome symptoms, Management and adherence challenges. It underscores the necessity for enhanced patient education and tailored management strategies.