[Primary care physicians' knowledge about allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma (ARIA guidelines): a comparative Brazilian/Paraguayan/Uruguayan pilot study].

Background: Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) establishes guidelines for the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) and its comorbidities.
Objective: To assess and compare the level of knowledge about AR and ARIA guidelines among primary care physicians (PCP) of Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Methods: 336 PCPs (Brazil 109, Paraguay 127, Uruguay 100) answered a questionnaire about personal and professional data and knowledge on RA and the ARIA guidelines; the Google Forms tool was used.
Results: There was a predominance of females (73, 50.4 and 70 % in Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, respectively); 124 worked in the community and 75 in emergency departments. Brazil and Uruguay PCPs recognized AR symptoms; 67 % of those from Uruguay did not ask about a history of AR diagnosis, 93 % about an asthma diagnosis and 90 % about rhinitis interference with daily activities. Intranasal corticosteroids use: 78, 92 and 54 % of Brazilian, Paraguayan and Uruguayan doctors; 100, 73.4 and 78 % of Paraguayan, Brazilian and Uruguayan PCPs, respectively, did not refer the patient to a specialist; 26.6, 62 and 6 % of PCPs in Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, respectively, knew the ARIA guidelines.
Conclusions: AR is commonly looked after by PCPs, but the recognition of symptoms and knowledge about ARIA guidelines are low and treatment is not always optimal.