Use of, satisfaction with, and willingness to switch prescription and over-the-counter treatments for chronic urticaria: an online survey.

Background: : Chronic urticaria (hives) affects a sizeable number of people worldwide, perhaps as much as 3%. It is often accompanied by angioedema. The negative effects of urticaria and angioedema, and any adverse effects of treatment, can result in significant patient burden.

Objective: : To explore patients' use of, preferences for, and willingness to switch from prescription to over-the-counter (OTC) treatments for chronic urticaria. In addition, we compared treatment satisfaction with the treatment used most recently for their chronic urticaria.

Methods: : Data were collected by an online survey using members of international consumer survey panels representative of the general populations in France and Germany. Panelists with urticaria were selected based on answers to screening questions. Respondents were asked, in their native language, questions about their typical course of treatment (prescription vs OTC), satisfaction with treatment, troublesomeness of their typical outbreak, whether their condition had improved or become worse over the past 12 months, and their willingness to try a new treatment if one became available. Descriptive analyses were performed on selected variables. Groups were compared using difference of means tests. Correlations and multiple regressions were performed to assess predictors of satisfaction with treatment and likelihood of switching treatment.

Results: : The final study sample consisted of 405 patients. Patients who used prescription treatments were more satisfied and reported greater treatment benefits with their treatment than those using OTC treatments. Patients who felt that their condition had become worse over the past 12 months were more likely to consider switching treatments. Respondents who used Aerius (desloratadine) most recently for treating their symptoms reported greater satisfaction with treatment than did those who used other commonly used prescription treatments most recently.

Conclusions: : These results suggest that prescription treatments for chronic urticaria have a valuable place amongst the treatments offered for this very uncomfortable condition. Moreover, patients expressed preference for prescription treatments in large part because they felt that these treatments work.