Pediatric Allergies in America: A Landmark Survey of Nasal Allergy Sufferers
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Prepared forNycomed
Conducted bySchulman, Ronca and Bucuvalas, Inc.
May 8, 2007
Supported by:
1
Study Design
Physician Survey: 3/8/07 – 4/17/07
100
100101
100
5050
20 minutesAMA/AOA Master List
State Licensing BoardAmerican Academy of Physician Assistants
Health Professional Survey
-- Pediatrics-- Family Practice
-- Allergy
-- Otolaryngology-- Nurse practitioner
-- Physician assistant
Cross-section: 3/7/07 – 4/25/07
500
504
18 minutes
36 minutes
National RDDPopulation Aged 4-17� with allergies
� without allergies
Completed Sample
Interview Length
Sampling FramePopulation
2
Seasonal or Perennial Allergies
Not sure, 1%
Seasonal, 63%
Throughout the year, 37%
Q12. Would you describe your (AGE)’s nasal allergies as seasonal or do they occur throughout the year? N=500
3
Season Allergies Are the Worse
76%
16%
34%
13%
2%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Spring Summer Fall Winter Not Sure
Q13b. During what times of the year are your (AGE)’s nasal allergies the worse? Base: Worse at certain times N=434
4
Symptoms During Worst Month
25%
15%
12%
25%
5%
12%
3%
2%
2%
18%
15%
9%
21%
19%
17%
27%
10%
15%
7%
5%
16%
15%
10%
2%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Repeated Sneezing
Watering Eyes
Red, itching eyes
Stuffed up nose
Awakened / Unable to Sleep
Itching
Headache
Ear Pain
Facial Pain
Runny Nose
Post-nasal drip
Dry Cough
Every day
Most days
Q14. During the worst one month period in the past year, did your (AGE) have (symptom) every day, most days a week, a few days a week, a few days a month, less than that, or never? N=500
5
How Bothersome are Symptoms
17%
18%
16%
35%
41%
39%
47%
37%
13%
23%
25%
18%
22%
32%
22%
16%
43%
40%
36%
37%
34%
34%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Repeated Sneezing
Watering Eyes
Red, itching eyes
Stuffed up nose
Itching
Headache
Ear Pain
Facial Pain
Runny Nose
Post-nasal drip
Dry Cough
Extremely
Moderately
Q15. When your (AGE) had nasal allergy attacks, how bothersome are the following symptoms usually --- extremely bothersome, moderately bothersome, slightly bothersome, or not bothersome ? N=500
6
Most Bothersome Symptom of Nasal Allergies
27%
13%
7%
8%
12%
7%
2%
5%
3%
4%
9%
2%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
Stuffed up nose
Headache
Post-nasal drip
Red, itching eyes
Runny Nose
Repeated Sneezing
Facial Pain
Watering Eyes
Ear Pain
Itching
Dry Cough
Not Sure
Most bothersome
Q16. Which of these symptoms was the most bothersome to your (AGE)? Base: Had bothersome symptoms N=438
7
Degree of Discomfort from Nasal Allergies
Not sure1%
Can't Tolerate33%
Can Ignore8%
Can Tolerate57%
Q17. In general, when your (AGE) has a nasal allergy attack would you say that (his/her) discomfort is usually something (he/she) can ignore, (he/she) can’t ignore it, but (he/she) can tolerate it, or (he/she) can’t tolerate it without relief? N=500
8
At Least Somewhat Troubled by Symptoms
26%
29%
12%
8%
12%
32%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Difficulty in getting to sleep
Waking up during the night
Lack of a good night'ssleep
Allergy N=500 Not Allergy N=504
QR3a-c. How troubled has your (AGE) been by each of these symptoms during the last week as a result of his/her nasal symptoms --- not troubled, hardly troubled, somewhat troubled, moderately troubled, quite a bit troubled, very troubled or extremely troubled?
9
General Health Rating
43%
33%
18%
5%
1%
59%
26%
11%
4%1%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Excellent Very good Good Only fair Poor/Very Poor
Per
cent
of r
espo
nden
ts
Allergy N=500 Not allergy N=504
Q1. In general, would you say that your (AGE)’s health is excellent, very good, good, only fair, poor or very poor?
10
Activity Limitation in Past 4 Weeks
21%23%
22%23%
11% 10% 10% 10%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Been limited inkind of work
Difficulty inperforming
Cut down onamount
Accomplished less
Per
cent
of r
espo
nden
ts
Allergy N=500 Not allergy N=504
N2a. During the past four weeks has your (AGE)… been limited in the kind of work or other activities he/she could do as a result of his health? N2b. … had difficulty in performing work or other activities …?N2c. … had to cut down on the amount of time spent on his/her regular daily activities…? N2d… accomplished less than he/she would like to….?
11
Positive Feelings: All of the Time
32%
18%
37%
28%
51%
29%
50%
32%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Full of Life Calm and Peaceful Lots of Energy Been Hap py
Per
cent
of r
espo
nden
ts
Allergy N=500 Not allergy N=504
N3a-g.During the past 4 weeks how often has your (AGE) ……… --- all of the time, most of the time, a good bit of the time, some of the time, little of the time, or none of the time?
12
Negative Feelings: Little or None of the Time
49%
61%
80%
73%
63%
77%
90%
84%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Felt Tired Felt Worn Out Downhearted or Blue Been Nerv ous
Per
cent
of r
espo
nden
ts
Allergy N=500 Not allergy N=504
N3a-g.During the past 4 weeks how often has your (AGE) ……… --- all of the time, most of the time, a good bit of the time, some of the time, little of the time, or none of the time?
13
Extremely or Very Important to Child
64%
81%
42%
85%
82%
62%
72%
65%
66%
82%
43%
88%
78%
52%
73%
66%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Playing organized sportsor exercising*
Doing well in school*
School activities*
Doing things with family
Going out/playing withfriends
Having pets
Outdoor activities
Indoor activities
Allergy N=500 Not Allergy N=504
N7. In your opinion, how important are each of the following to your (AGE)? Would you say it is extremely important, very important, somewhat important or not too important?
* Excludes 4 and 5 year olds
14
Allergies/Health Interferes a Lot or Some
32%
26%
17%
23%
29%
27%
31%
12%
10%
9%
5%
5%
7%
4%
7%
5%
8%40%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Organized sports or exercising*
Doing well in school*
School activities*
Doing things with family
Going out/playing with friends
Having pets
Outdoor activities
Indoor activities
Sleeping
Allergy N=493 Not Allergy N=432
N9. How much do you feel your (AGE)’s allergies/health limit what he/she can do in the following areas --- a lot, some, only a little or not at all?
* Excludes 4 and 5 year olds
15
Allergies/Health Interfered with School or Daycare in the Past 12 Months
Q23a. Aside from actually missing (school/daycare), has his/her allergies/health interfered with his/her performance at school? Base: In school or daycare
40%
58%
2%
11%
89%
0%0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Yes No Not sure
Per
cent
of r
espo
nden
ts
Allergy N=472 Not Allergy N=453
16
Productivity and Allergies97%
68%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
No Symptoms N=486 Symptoms at worst =487Q24. Thinking about your (AGE)’s ability to do things (he/she) wants to on a scale of 0 to 100, where 100 means
100% able, where would you rank (his/her) ability on days when (he/she) don’t have nasal allergy symptoms? Q25. Where would you rank your (AGE)’s ability on the same scale of 0 to 100 … when (his/her) nasal allergies are
at their worst?
Mean Productivity
17
Current Medication Use for Nasal Allergies
Q63a. In the past 4 weeks, has your (AGE) used any over-the-counter, non-prescription medicine to give (him/her) relief from nasal allergy symptoms? Q64a. In the past 4 weeks, has your (AGE) used any prescription nasal spray for (his/her) nasal allergies? Q72a. Has your (AGE) taken any other prescription medications for (his/her) nasal allergies in the past 4 weeks? N=500
54%
26%
34%
48%
76%
24%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
OTC Rx NasalSpray
Other Rx Any Rx AnyMedication
NoMedication
18
Symptom Relief from Current Intranasal Corticostero id
Q65. Does your (AGE)’s current prescription nasal spray give (him/her) relief from all of (his/her) symptoms, most symptoms, some symptoms, or no symptoms? Base: Uses intranasal corticosteroid N=129
Not sure, 3%
None, 4%Some, 29%
Most, 47%
All, 17%
19
Onset of Relief from Current Intranasal Corticosteroid
Q68. How long does it take for your (AGE)’ current prescription nasal spray to begin giving (him/her) symptom relief? Uses intranasal corticosteroid N=130
19%
31%
11%
2%0% 1% 1%
19%
4%
14%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Within 1hour
1 hour 2 hours 3-4hours
5-6hours
7-10hours
11-23hours
1-6days
Oneweek or
more
NotSure
20
Does Current Intranasal Corticosteroid Provide 24 Hour Relief
Q69a. Does your (AGE)’s current prescription nasal spray lose effectiveness over the course of the day or night, or does it remain as effective as when (he/she) first took it? Base: Uses intranasal corticosteroid N=130
Not sure, 14%
Does not, 36%
Loses effectiveness, 51%
21
Change Prescription Medicines for Nasal Allergies
Q81a. How often does your (AGE) change nasal allergy medicines ---several times each year, once a year, every few years, only rarely or never? N=500
Several times a year, 8%
Not sure, 3%
Once a year, 8%
Every few years, 10%Only rarely, 31%
Never, 40%
22
Why Changed Medicine for Nasal Allergies
Q81b. Why has your (AGE) changed nasal allergy medicines? Anything else? Base: Has changed nasal allergy medicines. N=284
39%
22%
6%
5%
3%
6%
4%
1%
4%
3%
1%
4%
12%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Not effective enough
Doctor wanted to try other
Patient wanted to try other
Bothersome side effects
Cost/co-pay
Didn't treat symptoms
Not covered
Safety concerns
Not long lasting enough
Hard to take
Not fast enough
Not sure
Other
23
Why Dissatisfied with Nasal Allergy Medicine
Q82c. Why were you (or he/she) dissatisfied with that medicine? Base: Have asked doctor to change nasal allergy medicines. N=128
61%
16%
9%
9%
1%
2%
1%
8%
1%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Wasn't effective
Bothersome side effects
Effectiveness wore off
Didn't provide 24 hour relief
Cost/co-pay
Hard to administer
Dosing Schedule
Other
Not sure
24
Effectiveness Wears Off Over Time
Q88a. Have you ever found that a prescription spray’s effectiveness in treating your (AGE)’s nasal allergy symptoms wears off over time even when (he/she) is taking the medicine as prescribed?
Q88b. Has this happened to your (AGE) with more than one prescription nasal allergy spray? N=500
Not sure, 25%
No, 46%
Yes, not sure how many, 1%
Yes, one, 15%
Yes, more than one, 13%
25
Commonly Reported Side Effects of Prescription Nasal Sprays
19%
6%
21%
5%3% 3%
10%
3%
8%
5%
9%
7%
13%
10%
9%
1%2%
5%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Bad taste Burning Dripping downthroat
Drying feeling Headaches Drowsiness
Some
Most
All
Q90. How many of the prescription sprays that your (AGE) has taken for nasal allergies had the following types of side effects --- all, most, some, few or none? N=500
26
Severity of Commonly Reported Side Effects of Prescription Nasal Sprays
12%7%
10%
5% 5% 4%
16%
8%
19%
9% 8%7%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Bad taste Burning Dripping downthroat
Drying feeling Headaches Drowsiness
Moderately
Extremely
Q91. How bothersome are the following side effects of prescription sprays for nasal allergy --- extremely, moderately, slightly or not bothersome? N=500
27
Reason Stopped Taking Nasal Allergy Prescription
Q94. Has your (AGE) ever stopped taking a nasal allergy spray prescribed by (his/her) doctor because…. N=500
14%
14%
13%
13%
5%
4%
2%
6%
5%
53%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Didn't find it effective
Effectiveness began wearing off
Didn't provide 24 hour relief
Bothersome side effects
Not covered
Co-pay was too high
Dosing schedule was difficult
Hard to administer
Concern about safety
None of these
28
Failed to Follow Physician Instructions
Q108. People with nasal allergies sometimes fail to follow their physician’s instructions about their medicines for their nasal allergies. Has your (AGE) ever failed to take an allergy medicine as prescribed because of ……N=500
26%
24%
39%
20%
19%
12%
17%
17%
14%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Lack of symptom relief
Loss of effectiveness over time
Lack of symptoms
Troublesome side effects
Worry about side effects
Cost of drugs
Concern about long term use
Poor toleration
Concern about safety
29
Discomfort During Allergy Attack: Patients and Practitioners
P8. In general, would you say that patients’ 4 to 17’s discomfort during a nasal allergy attack is usually something they can ignore, they can’t ignore it, but they can tolerate it, or they can’t tolerate it without relief? N=501
Q17. In general, when your child has a nasal allergy attack would you say that (his/her) discomfort is usually something s/he can ignore, s/he can’t ignore it, but s/he can tolerate it, or s/he can’t tolerate it without relief? N=500
26%
55%
38%
27%
28%
33%
64%
57%
70%
56%
41%
71%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
ENT
Allergist
Pediatrician
Family Practice
Nurse Prac./PhysicianAsst.
Patients
Can't tolerate Can't ignore
30
Productivity when Nasal Allergies are at Their Worst: Patients and Practitioners
P10. Thinking about productivity at school on a scale from 0 to 100, where 100 means 100% productivity, where would you rank the productivity of patients 4 to 17 with allergic rhinitis, when their nasal allergies are at their worst? N=501
Q25. Where would you rank your child’s ability to do the things (he/she) wants to on the same scale of 0 to 100, where 100 means 100% able, when (his/her) nasal allergies are at their worst? Base: 487
Mean
59%
68%
61%66%
54%55%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
ENT Allergist Pediatrician FamilyPractice
NP/PA Patients
31
Percent Very Satisfied With Disease Management: Patients and Practitioners
P20. Approximately, what proportion of your patients aged 4 to 17 with nasal allergies would you say are VERY satisfied with the management of their disease? Would you say… N=501
Q51. Overall, how satisfied are you with (his/her) health practitioner’s management and treatment of your (AGE)’snasal allergies? N=500
73%77%
68%
1%
68%
2%4%4%3%
58%
75%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
ENT Allergist Pediatrician Family Practice NP/PA Patients
All (91% to 100%) Most (51% to 90%)
32
Satisfaction with Intra-nasal Corticosteroids: Patients and Practitioners
P36. In general, how satisfied are your patients aged 4 to 17 with allergic rhinitis with their intra-nasal corticosteroids? Would you say that they are very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? N=501
Q70b. In general, how satisfied have you been with the prescription nasal spray your (AGE) has used for (his/her) nasal allergies in the past? Base: Ever used Rx nasal spray for nasal allergies. N=335
18%
72%
69%
61%
70%
43%33%
31%
37%
26%
22%
57%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
ENT
Allergist
Pediatrician
Family Practice
NP/PA
Patients
Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied
33
Money’s Worth from Prescription Allergy Medicines: Patients and Practitioners
P30. Overall, do your patients aged 4 to 17 feel they get their money’s worth out of prescription medicines for nasal allergies? N=501
Q97. Overall, do you feel that patients get their money’s worth out of prescription medicines for nasal allergies? N=500
80%
63%
84%88%
82%
74%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
ENT Allergist Pediatrician FamilyPractice
NP/PA Patients
34
Attitudes about Nasal Allergies: Agree
88%
69%
35%
59%
75%
81%
28%
75%
67%
25%
62%
75%
76%
44%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Nasal allergies are serioushealth problem in US
Nasal allergies usually causesome lifestyle limitations
There are no truly effectivetreatments for nasal allergies
Frequent nasal allergysymptoms can be prevented
Nasal allergies can makeasthma worse
Nasal allegies can cause sinusinfections
Rx nasal sprays are not safe forchildren
Allergy N=500 Not allergy N=504
Q110. Now I am going to read you a series of statements. As I read each statement , please tell me whether you agree strongly, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat or disagree strongly with the statement.
35
Need for Patient Education: Patients and Practitioners
P45. How much need do you think there is for better education of PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH NASAL ALLERGIES about their condition and its treatment? Do you think there is a… N=501
Q113. How much need do you think there is for better education of PARENTS OF CHILDREN with nasal allergiesabout their condition and its treatment? N=500
54%
56%
51%
60%
50%
45%
42%
40%
45%
38%
41%
55%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
ENT
Allergist
Pediatrician
Family Practice
NP/PA
Patients
Strong need Moderate need
