{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,27]],"date-time":"2026-08-27T14:26:19Z","timestamp":1787840779988,"version":"build-2784847793"},"reference-count":20,"publisher":"Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,1]],"date-time":"2026-02-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1769904000000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["lww.com","ovid.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,2]]},"abstract":"\n A\n BSTRACT<\/jats:sc>\n <\/jats:title>\n \n Purpose\/Background:<\/jats:title>\n The prevalence of respiratory allergies has been increasing worldwide, yet there are limited data on the knowledge and practices of primary care physicians (PCPs) in Georgia, where access to primary care has expanded under the Universal Health Care Programme. Given that PCPs are often the first point of contact for patients with allergy symptoms, this study aimed to evaluate their education and knowledge regarding respiratory allergies in three regions of Georgia.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods:<\/jats:title>\n \n A cross-sectional survey was conducted among PCPs in Tbilisi, Samegrelo, and Kakheti. A structured questionnaire, reviewed by allergy specialists and public health experts and piloted before fieldwork, was administered face to face using Epi Info software from August 30, 2023, to July 11, 2024. Data collected included sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of respiratory allergy symptoms, environmental pollen sources, diagnostic tests, treatment practices, and levels of self-reported information. Knowledge scores were calculated based on correct responses. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v26.0, with Chi-square and Fisher\u2019s exact tests used to assess associations (\n P<\/jats:italic>\n < 0.05).\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results:<\/jats:title>\n A total of 189 PCPs participated. Most respondents correctly identified common symptoms of respiratory allergies, such as coughing\/sneezing (92.6%), difficulty breathing (89.4%), and rhinorrhea (85.7%), although some misidentified fever (26.5%) and diarrhea (11.6%) as typical symptoms. Nearly all physicians (98.4%) identified ragweed as a major pollen allergen, but fewer recognized Artemisia (22.8%) or Alder (16.9%). Specific IgE testing (96.8%) and spirometry (55.0%) were most frequently identified as appropriate diagnostic tools. Most participants (84.1%) prescribed intranasal and oral medications, while 25.9% believed antibiotics may be included in asthma treatment. A substantial proportion (69.8%) felt only partially informed about respiratory allergies. PCPs in Tbilisi more often demonstrated high knowledge of allergy symptoms than those in other regions (74.6% vs. 58.5%).<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusions:<\/jats:title>\n The findings reveal gaps in PCPs\u2019 knowledge and management of respiratory allergies in Georgia, including misconceptions about symptoms, allergenic pollens, diagnostics, and treatment. Most physicians expressed a need for further education, especially through training sessions and workshops. Strengthening PCP training is essential for improving care for patients with respiratory allergies in Georgia.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.4103\/jfmpc.jfmpc_1673_25","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,20]],"date-time":"2026-03-20T12:01:33Z","timestamp":1774008093000},"page":"984-991","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/lww.0000000000001000","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Knowledge regarding respiratory allergy among primary care physicians in Georgia"],"prefix":"10.4103","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Lasha","family":"Gulbiani","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Public Health, University of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maia","family":"Butsashvili","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Infectious Diseases, Clinic Neolab, Tbilisi, Georgia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tina","family":"Kamkamidze","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Epidemiology, Health Research Union, Tbilisi, Georgia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"William Michael","family":"Caudle","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"George","family":"Kamkamidze","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Infectious Diseases, Clinic Neolab, Tbilisi, Georgia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"276","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"R1-20260325","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.5114\/ada.2022.119009","article-title":"The increase in allergic conditions based on a review of literature","volume":"40","author":"Gutowska-\u015alesik","year":"2023","journal-title":"Postepy Dermatol Alergol"},{"key":"R2-20260325","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"415","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaci.2019.07.048","article-title":"Environmental factors associated with allergy in urban and rural children from the South African Food Allergy (SAFFA) cohort","volume":"145","author":"Levin","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Allergy Clin Immunol"},{"key":"R3-20260325","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"166","DOI":"10.1159\/000090502","article-title":"Allergy practice worldwide: A report by the World Allergy Organization Specialty and Training Council","volume":"139","author":"Warner","year":"2006","journal-title":"Int Arch Allergy Immunol"},{"key":"R4-20260325","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2232","DOI":"10.1111\/all.15807","article-title":"Global, regional, and national burden of allergic disorders and their risk factors in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2019: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019","volume":"78","author":"Shin","year":"2023","journal-title":"Allergy"},{"key":"R5-20260325","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1275","DOI":"10.1111\/all.12470","article-title":"Economic burden of inadequate management of allergic diseases in the European Union: A GA (2) LEN review","volume":"69","author":"Zuberbier","year":"2014","journal-title":"Allergy"},{"key":"R6-20260325","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11","DOI":"10.1177\/1753465811431975","article-title":"The burden of allergic rhinitis and asthma","volume":"6","author":"Ozdoganoglu","year":"2012","journal-title":"Ther Adv Respir Dis"},{"key":"R7-20260325","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e37287","DOI":"10.1097\/MD.0000000000037287","article-title":"Risk prediction model construction for asthma after allergic rhinitis by blood immune T effector cells","volume":"103","author":"Wang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Medicine (Baltimore)"},{"issue":"Suppl 2","key":"R8-20260325","first-page":"3","article-title":"Epidemiology of rhinitis and asthma","volume":"28","author":"Lundb\u00e4ck","year":"1998","journal-title":"Clin Exp Allergy"},{"key":"R9-20260325","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"451","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pop.2016.04.013","article-title":"Indoor and outdoor allergies","volume":"43","author":"Singh","year":"2016","journal-title":"Prim Care"},{"key":"R10-20260325","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.1186\/2045-7022-2-21","article-title":"Research needs in allergy: An EAACI position paper, in collaboration with EFA","volume":"2","author":"Papadopoulos","year":"2012","journal-title":"Clin Transl Allergy"},{"key":"R11-20260325","first-page":"75","article-title":"Plant aeroallergens in two major cities of Georgia - 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