Attitude and Knowledge of Patients with Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis who Received Allergen Immunotherapy in Phramongkutklao Hospital
Atik Sangasapaviliya MD*, Kittipong Pholsuwanchai MD*
Affiliation : * Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To determine attitude and knowledge of patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis who received AIT (Allergen
Immunotherapy).
Study design: A cross-sectional analytical study.
Material and Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the patients with allergic asthma and allergic
rhinitis whom were treated with AIT at the Allergy Clinic, Phramongkutklao Hospital between February 1st 2008 to October
31st 2008. Standardized questionnaires were used to collect patients demographic data, attitude and knowledge.
Results : A total of 100 patients were enrolled in this study. Sixty-six percents of pateints expected that AIT would improve their
quality of lifes and could prevent their disease recurrence. Fifty three percents of patients expected that their allergic diseases
could be cured completely while 22 percents of patients expected that AIT could prevent the occurrence of a new allergic
disease. Only 42 percents of patients understood that AIT would improve the conditions after treatment at least 6 months.
Twenty two percent of patients knew that AIT was safe and there was no serious side effect.
Conclusion : Patients treated with AIT had still lack of knowlegde about AIT treatment and the potential serious side effect
that could occur.
Keywords : Allergen immunotherapy, Asthma, Allergic rhinitis
