Olfactory disorders: the patients' view

Objective: To investigate the level of knowledge that patients had about their olfactory disorder at the time of presentation to a specialist Olfaction Clinic. Design: Multi-centered, cohort study of consecutive patients presenting to specialist Olfaction Clinics surveyed using a standardized questionnaire. Setting: Tertiary referral Olfactory Clinics in Geneva, Switzerland and Dresden, Germany. Main Outcome Measures: The number of prior medial consultations, the number and type of doctors they had consulted, a rating of the information they had received from these doctors, whether prognostic information had been given and whether they felt their problems had been well managed by the doctor were factors surveyed. Olfactory assessment was measured by the Sniffin' Sticks kit. Results: Eighty percent of patients had sought previous medical advice, with a mean 2.1 past consultations. Of these patients, 60% reported that they had received either no or unclear or unsatisfactory information about their diagnosis, 30% had received no information about their prognosis and 25% felt they had not been managed well. Conclusion: The majority of patients with olfactory disorders seek medical advice before presenting to a specialist Olfaction Clinic. However, the majority reported receiving no or poor information about their diagnosis and prognosis. Considering the significant prevalence and potential consequences of olfactory disorders, it is our duty as specialists to improve the knowledge and communication of our medical colleagues about these diseases, so that patient education or referral can be improved.