What do People Mean by Rhinosinusitis in Medinah, Saudi Arabia?

Introduction: Diagnosed over 30 million times annually, rhinosinusitis represents a prevalent reason for people to seek medical attention. However, perceptions of the condition’s symptoms vary between patients and otolaryngologists. Methods: This cross-sectional study saw an online questionnaire administered to patients presenting to otolaryngology clinics for nonurgent outpatient visits from June 2024 to December 2024. The primary outcome identifies how participants defined rhinosinusitis in response to a list of 28 proposed terms. The secondary outcome assesses the concordance between patients’ diagnoses of rhinosinusitis and those of otolaryngologists. Results: Responses were obtained from 469 patients (50.5% female, 20–29 years) and 30 otolaryngologists (73.3% male, 30–39 years). Compared to otolaryngologists, patients selected a broader range of symptoms. The most reported symptoms were headache (70.6%), blocked nose (65.7%), and runny nose (52%). In addition, patients variously identified the sinus as a part of the body (45%), a disease (37.5%), and a symptom (17.5%). Meanwhile, the most reported symptoms by otolaryngologists were postnasal drip (90%), blocked nose (86.7%), and pain in the face (83.3%). Conclusion: The definition of rhinosinusitis appears variable for both patients and otolaryngologists, although patients seem to associate a broader range of symptoms with rhinosinusitis. Patients often describe rhinosinusitis as having airflow and pain-related symptoms; however, the findings demonstrate a limited understanding of the symptoms associated with rhinosinusitis. Recognizing these semantic differences may enable more effective patient-clinician communication.