D2.448 - Recommendations on Patient Education for Biological Therapy in CRSwNP – An EAACI Position Paper

Biologicals for severe uncontrolled chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) need to be regularly injected subcutaneously with injection intervals varying from biweekly to once every 6 months. Therefore, despite their promising clinical efficacy, therapeutical success relies on patient’s adherence and persistence to therapy. Different means of patient education have been shown to be effective in enhancing medication adherence and improving outcomes in other chronic diseases, but dedicated patient material by independent, reliable sources in accordance with patient’s needs for CRSwNP is still scarce.

A review of the literature was conducted using PubMed and Cochrane databases. Based on these results, an expert panel composed of physicians and patient organization representatives experienced in the field formed an EAACI Task Force to propose uniform recommendations on patient education in the context of biological therapy in CRSwNP and develop comprehensible patient information.

Review of the literature revealed a lack of data on current practices, patient’s and health-care professional’s needs, and efficacy of different educational interventions for CRSwNP. Even dedicated patient material for other chronic diseases was found to be inadequate, mostly due to a low level of readability. Based on the positive effects of patient education in other chronic diseases the EAACI Task Force members recommend structured integration of educational interventions into therapeutic management of CRSwNP and their thorough evaluation. A patient information leaflet has been developed that allows easy access to the relevant and practical information in accordance with 6 patient organizations worldwide.

Despite a current lack of evidence, patient education can be assumed to be an indispensable tool to improve disease outcomes in patients with CRSwNP treated with biologicals. Future research should aim to develop and assess the effectiveness of educational interventions in a structured manner. The patient information leaflet created by this EAACI Task Force will be made available via EAACI platforms and support this approach.