ArticleScandinavian journal of primary health care2021
Nasal saline irrigation: prescribing habits and attitudes of physicians and pharmacists.
Article in Scandinavian journal of primary health care, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.
- Regular nasal irrigation modulates nasal microbiota and improves symptoms in allergic rhinitis patients: a retrospective study.American journal of translational research · 2025Article
- A large-volume low-pressure nasal irrigation delivers drug into the nasal cavity? An in vivo study.Drug delivery and translational research · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesTo explore the opinions, the usage and the patient education given on nasal saline irrigation by physicians and pharmaceutical personnel working in Finland.
designAn internet-based survey with predetermined, multiple-choice answers.
settingPrimary care centres, occupational health centres and private care centres in Eastern Finland as well as pharmacies in Finland.
main outcome measuresHealthcare professionals views, practice and general knowledge of nasal irrigation for sinonasal symptoms and conditions.
resultsWe received 595 completed surveys (110 physicians, 485 pharmacists). The majority of the respondents recommended nasal saline irrigation for their patients either as a symptomatic treatment (98.0%) or to treat a specific condition (97.5%) such as acute rhinosinusitis, chronic rhinosinusitis and allergic rhinitis. Nasal saline irrigation was also often recommended as a prophylaxis for airway-infections (71.9%) and to enhance the health of the nasal mucosa (58.2%). In general, the possible adverse effects were recognised poorly by both professions. There was a clear difference between the two professions, as physicians were more conservative in recommending nasal saline irrigation and recognised possible adverse effects, such as epistaxis, pain, and dryness of the nose, better (75% vs. 59%,
conclusionsNasal saline irrigation seems to be a popular treatment recommended by many health care professionals in Finland. Physicians and pharmaceutical personnel had variable opinions on the indications, utility and risks of nasal saline irrigation. There are also clear differences between physicians and pharmaceutical personnel's practices. There is a need to better educate professionals about nasal saline irrigation and to further study whether nasal saline irrigation is efficient and safe option for the different common sinonasal conditions.KEY POINTSLittle information is available on how physicians and pharmacists recommend nasal saline irrigation as a symptomatic treatment.Physicians and pharmacists seem to have variable opinions about the indications, utility and safety of nasal saline irrigation.The patient education given is in general very heterogenous.Both professions require more education to ensure that the usage remains as safe as possible for the patient.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.