Table. Comparison of Patient and Clinician Definitions of Congestion.
| Symptoms | Patients, No. (%) | Clinicians, No. (%) | Difference, % (95% CI)a | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORL Faculty | ORL Resident | Total ORL | |||
| Obstructive | |||||
| Total | 199 (88.1) | 17 (100) | 14 (100) | 31 (100) | 11.9 (7.4-16.5) |
| Blockage of nose | 158 (69.9) | 17 (100) | 13 (92.9) | 30 (96.8) | NA |
| Stuffy nose | 165 (73.0) | 17 (100) | 14 (100) | 31 (100) | NA |
| Difficulty breathing | 104 (46.0) | 10 (58.8) | 7 (50) | 17 (54.8) | NA |
| Pressure related | |||||
| Total | 146 (64.6) | 6 (35.3) | 2 (14.3) | 8 (25.8) | 38.8 (7.5-70.1) |
| Pressure in face | 114 (50.4) | 3 (17.7) | 2 (14.3) | 5 (16.1) | NA |
| Heaviness in head | 80 (35.4) | 2 (11.8) | 1 (7.1) | 3 (9.7) | NA |
| Clogged ears | 99 (44.2) | 4 (23.5) | 1 (7.1) | 5 (16.1) | NA |
| Mucus related | |||||
| Total | 196 (86.7) | 5 (29.4) | 6 (42.9) | 11 (35.5) | 51.2 (22.6-79.9) |
| Mucus in throat | 117 (51.8) | 1 (5.9) | 0 | 1 (3.4) | NA |
| Mucus in nose | 149 (65.9) | 4 (25.5) | 5 (35.7) | 9 (29.0) | NA |
| Postnasal drip | 81 (35.8) | 0 | 1 (7.1) | 1 (3.4) | NA |
| Cold | 21 (9.3) | 0 | 1 (7.1) | 1 (3.4) | NA |
| Throat clearing | 63 (27.9) | 0 | 1 (7.1) | 1 (3.4) | NA |
| Mucus in chest | 110 (48.2) | 3 (17.7) | 0 | 3 (9.7) | NA |
| Runny nose | 57 (25.2) | 1 (5.9) | 1 (7.1) | 2 (6.5) | NA |
| Other | |||||
| Total | 119 (52.7) | 1 (5.9) | 0 | 1 (3.4) | 49.4 (13.7-85.2) |
| Cough | 60 (26.6) | 0 | 0 | 0 | NA |
| Wheezing | 38 (16.8) | 1 (5.9) | 0 | 1 (3.4) | NA |
| Headache | 72 (31.9) | 0 | 0 | 0 | NA |
Abbreviations: NA, not applicable; ORL, otorhinolaryngologist.
a
Between patients and total ORL clinicians.