The ARIA Guidelines in Specialist Practice: a Nationwide Survey

Problem: In 2001, the ARIA guidelines were published to assist healthcare practitioners in managing allergic rhinitis (AR) according to the best evidence. Very limited information, however, is avail-able on the impact of these guidelines on clinical practice.

Methods: All Belgian Otorhinolaryngologists were invited to complete a questionnaire, covering demographic and professional characteristics, knowledge, use and perception of the ARIA guidelines and 4 clinical case scenarios of AR.

Results: Of the 258 (44%) Belgian Otorhinolaryngologists who participated, almost 90% had ever heard about ARIA and 64% had followed a lecture specifically dedicated to the ARIA guidelines. Furthermore, 62% stated to always or mostly follow the ARIA treatment algorithms in the daily management of AR patients. In the clinical case section, adherence to the ARIA guidelines raised with increased self-reported knowledge and use of the ARIA guidelines and among participants that considered the guidelines more userfriendly. Of the respondents, 51% were considered as good com-pliers. Younger age was a significant predictor for good compliance.

Conclusion: More efforts are required to improve the translation of scientific knowledge into clinical practice and to further identify which factors may influence guideline compliance.