Identifying Barriers to Providing Allergy Services Within Otolaryngology Practices

Introduction: With the prevalence of allergy-related disorders in the U.S. continuing to increase, more otolaryngologists are implementing related services into their practice. Here, we aim to understand trends of otolaryngologists offering allergy services and barriers to doing so.

Methods: A remote, cross-sectional survey was sent out between November and December 2024 to active members of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS). Demographics characteristics were analyzed for physicians who do and do not offer allergy services in their practice. Participants that did not offer these services were asked about barriers to providing these services.

Results: 106 (77.94%) of the 136 respondents were at a practice that administered allergy services, 77.36% being male and 22.54% being female. Of respondents offering allergy services, 70.38% were between the ages of 45 and 65 years old, and 83.96% were Caucasian. The most common service offered was spirometry (43.40%). Practices located in the East South Central region had 11.41 times increased likelihood of offering allergy services (95% CI 1.06 to 123.44), while practices in the South Atlantic region had 6.74 times increased likelihood (95% CI 1.10 to 41.59). There was no significant difference between practice types for offering allergy services. 31.00% of respondents who did not provide allergy services indicated the most common barrier as lack of office space for service provision.

Conclusions: By identifying trends in otolaryngologists who do and do not provide allergy services, the AAO-HNS can better support its members in offering these services.