Comment s’informent les patients allergiques ? Une étude exploratoire dans un CHU français

Study objective

The objective of this study was to apprehend information practices of patients receiving allergy care.

Patients and methods

We conducted a prospective monocentric study administering a questionnaire to 200 patients consulting for any type of allergy in a French university hospital center. Respondents provided answers on their socio-demographic characteristics, personal practices for seeking information on allergies, understanding of the information shared by allergists, and doctor's attitude.

Results

In all, 68% of patients declared informing themselves on allergies. Healthcare professionals were their main sources of information (allergist 66%, family doctor 57%, other specialists 5%), followed by the Internet (22%), leaflets from pharmaceutical laboratories (16%), and traditional media (television 11%, press 6%, radio, 2%). Patients expressed the need for information and explanations from the allergist, regarding the diagnosed allergy, adverse effects, and duration of treatment. Thirty-one percent of them encountered difficulty in understanding the information shared by the doctor during the consultation, especially in patients suffering from respiratory allergies, with a short clinical history, an educational level below high school diploma and among those who do not seek information on allergies besides medical consultation.

Discussion and conclusion

The study led to identify first outlines on information practices of allergy patients. The work will be continued by a qualitative study.