[Patient preference survey on the lack of taste and odor of Nasonex nasal spray. Which impact on compliance to treatment?]. / Enquête de préférence patients sur l'absence de saveur et d'odeur du Nasonex en pulvérisation nasale. Quel impact sur l'observance du traitement ?

In order to assess the acceptability of a new scent-free formulation of mometasone furoate (Nasonex) among allergic rhinitis patients, who already have been treated by the scented formulation of Nasonex, a phone survey was performed with a sample of 216 patients recruited by Nasonex GP's prescribers and pharmacists. The aim of this survey is to assess the diagnosis modalities, the allergic rhinitis characteristics and associated symptoms in one hand and in the other hand, the main reasons which led them to prefer a new scent-free formulation, in comparison with the only commercialized scented mometasone furoate (Nasonex) at the time when this survey was conducted. The impact of unscented Nasonex on patient's compliance to treatment was also assessed. This survey confirms that the GP is the key actor who usually establish the allergy diagnosis and the interrogatory is the principle method used. The prick test was more often and significantly used in 35% of the perennial rhinitis instead of 19% in seasonal allergic rhinitis (p < or = 0.05). When the diagnosis of allergy was established by an allergologist, 89% of them used a prick test. In this survey, asthma was associated in 24% of the patients, particularly in who suffering from perennial allergic rhinitis. 85% of patients rate their smell as globally good. 75% of the treated patients were interested by the new unscented formulation of Nasonex, regardless of the type of their rhinitis, seasonal or perennial. About 60% of patients stated that the lack of odor will led them to be more compliant to their treatment.