Knowledge levels related to allergen specific immunotherapy and perspectives of parents whose children were diagnosed with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis in Turkey

Abstract

Işık S, Çağlayan-Sözmen Ş, Asilsoy S, Kılıçarslan SK, AnalÖ, Karaman Ö, Uzuner N. Knowledge levels related to allergen specificimmunotherapy and perspectives of parents whose children were diagnosedwith asthma and/or allergic rhinitis in Turkey. Turk J Pediatr 2018; 60: 50-55.In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the knowledge levels and perspectivesabout allergen specific immunotherapy (ASI) of parents whose children werediagnosed with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis with positive skin prick test.The study was conducted between September 2014 and January 2015. Surveysthat were filled by 198 parents were analyzed. One hundred-ninety-eightparents were included in the study; 42.9% of the parents had knowledge aboutASI. Parents obtained information about the ASI from respectively pediatricallergy specialists (25.5%), relatives and friends (17.8%), media (12.9%),and pediatrician (8.2%). There is a strong association between educationallevel of the mother, atopy background of the family, the monthly per capitaincome, and having knowledge about the ASI. Multivariate regression analysisrevealed that individuals with a monthly income higher than 2,000 TL weremore likely to be aware of the ASI application (OR: 4.35, 95% CI: 1.13-16.71; p