What are the teaching and learning needs for the diagnosis and management of rhinitis in primary and community care globally?

Background: Multiple studies have highlighted teaching and learning needs about rhinitis. IPCRG’s research needs prioritisation (1) highlights two questions with over 80% consensus: 1. What tools could help the primary care clinician differentiate between allergic and non-allergic rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, common cold and other clinically similar conditions? 2. What are the best clinical tools to monitor asthmatic and allergic children in primary care in LMICs? Additionally, studies of GPs and pharmacists show significant gaps in competence and confidence. (2,3) IPCRG plans to address these gaps including a global situational analysis and learning needs assessment. It seeks feedback on its design. Methodology: 1. Following peer review and pilot, questionnaire to be (See outline Fig 1) distributed to all IPCRG contacts through mailing lists, member countries and other networks e.g. WONCA, FIP and ICRN linking to a Google form. 2. Questionnaire will address diagnosis, management, care pathways, data and research availability and preferred learning style. 3. Analysis by country, age, gender and profession 4. Consideration of results by IPCRG’s education committee to inform response. References: 1. Abdel-Aal A et al. Prioritising primary care respiratory research needs: results from the 2020 International Primary Care Respiratory Group (IPCRG) global e-Delphi exercise. npj Prim. Care Respir. Med. 32, 6 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41533-021-00266-4 2. Ryan D et al. Results of an allergy educational needs questionnaire for primary care. Allergy. 2017 Jul;72(7):1123-1128. doi: 10.1111/all.13134 3. Scheire S et al. Rhinitis Control and Medication Use in a Real-World Sample of Patients with Persistent Rhinitis or Rhinosinusitis: A Community Pharmacy Study. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2024 Jul;12(7):1865-1876.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2024.04.031. Funding: The IPCRG self-funded the development of the research idea; it has secured funding from ALK to support the distribution of the questionnaire if it is decided to go ahead.