A cross-sectional survey on the experience of people with allergic rhinitis amidst COVID-19 pandemic: The impact of the facemask: A pilot study

• Nadia Al Mazrouei ^[1] ; Asim Ahmed Elnour ^[3] ; Abdalla Abou Hajal ^[4] ; Adel Sadeq ^[5] ; Al Kubaisi Khalid Awad ^[6] ; Raneem Hammouri ^[7] ; Ola Ishbair ^[7] ; Nour Dabbagh ^[8] ; Alin Alkwarit ^[9] ; Maisoun Alkaabi ^[10] ; Vineetha Menon ^[10] ; Semira Abdi Beshir ^[11] ; Mohamed A. Baraka ^[12] ; Israa Yousif Khidir ^[13] ; Samah Mohammed Hussein ^[2] ; Abdulla Al Amoodi ^[14] ; Sami Fatehi Abdalla ^[15]
  1. [1] University of Sharjah

     University of Sharjah

     Emiratos Árabes Unidos

     
  2. [2] Qassim University

     Qassim University

     Arabia Saudí

     
  3. [3] PhD, MSc. Program of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University (AAU), Abu Dhabi campus, Abu Dhabi-United Arab Emirates. AAU Health and Biomedical Research Centre, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
  4. [4] Pharmacist (Post-graduate MSc student, BSc), Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University (AAU), Abu Dhabi Campus, Abu Dhabi-United Arab Emirates. AAU Health and Biomedical Research Centre, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
  5. [5] PhD, MSc. Associate Professor, Program of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Al Ain-UAE
  6. [6] Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, College of Pharmacy-University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
  7. [7] Pharmacist, Abu Dhabi-UAE.
  8. [8] College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi campus, Abu Dhabi-UAE.
  9. [9] Intern pharmacist, Abu Dhabi-UAE.
  10. [10] General Manager, New Medical Center (NMC) Royal Women’s Hospital, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
  11. [11] Associate professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacotherapeutics, Dubai Pharmacy College for Girls, Dubai-United Arab Emirates
  12. [12] Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Clinical Pharmacy department, College of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
  13. [13] Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacy Practice, (Ph.D., MSc, B Pharm), College of Pharmacy, University of Najran, Saudi Arabia.
  14. [14] Ambulatory Healthcare Services, Academic Affairs, Abu Dhabi Health Services (SEHA), UAE.
  15. [15] Associate Professor (Clinical Dermatology and Medical Physiology) Clinical Department, College of Medicine, University of Almmarefa, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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• Localización: Pharmacy Practice (Granada), ISSN-e 1886-3655, Vol. 21, Nº. 3, 2023 (Ejemplar dedicado a: jul-sep)
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Background: Since outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, almost whole world asked to wear the facemask especially in the public areas as a precaution to avoid the transmission of the disease, and curbs the pandemic. Looking from another perspective, we need to consider the effect of the facemask in reducing allergic rhinitis symptoms.

    Objective: The current study objective was to assess the impact of facemasks on the symptoms of allergic rhinitis in subjects who were obligatory using facemask due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Methods: The current study was ethically approved self-administered validated survey (Cronbach Alfa 0.81) comprised of 28-items to assess the impact of wearing the facemask, and whether there was an improvement in symptoms of allergic rhinitis. The outcome measure was the responses to the four domains (knowledge, attitude, symptoms, and help/advice) measured on Likert scale to assess the responses of subjects with allergic rhinitis during the COVID -19 pandemic.

    Results: 82 respondents (mean age was 22.59 ±2.77 years) have completed the survey, of which 73 females (89%) and (52/82, 63.4%) university students. 29 (35.4%), stated that the fabric facemask is useful in reduction of symptoms. 44 (53.7%) believe that the surgical mask N95 is very beneficial in the reduction of symptoms. There was a significant difference in knowledge levels for both eye and nasal symptoms’ reduction responses (P <0.001). Tukey’s HSD (honestly significant difference) used to determine the specifics of the variances (differences in multiple means) in symptom reduction. For eye symptoms, the analysis revealed that respondents who reported that they had reduced symptoms had higher knowledge scores (6.74±2.7) than those who reported no reduction in allergic symptoms (mean ±SD: 4.96±3.2). The lowest score was associated with respondents that were uncertain regarding their symptom alleviation (mean ±SD: 4.53±3.1). For nasal symptoms, the analysis revealed that respondents who reported that they had reduced symptoms had higher knowledge scores (7.03±2.7) than those who reported no reduction in allergic symptoms (3.94±2.5).

    Conclusion: Our results reveal that facemask usage may reduce allergic rhinitis symptom severity in chronically affected individuals with intermittent disease. The study supports the hypothesis that facemask may reduce atopic allergic responses