Introduction. The quantity of topical treatments for leg ulcers has increased over the last 15 years. Objective. To determine the prescriptions for topical tr eatments and the problems in the management of leg ulcers ...Introduction. The quantity of topical treatments for leg ulcers has increased over the last 15 years. Objective. To determine the prescriptions for topical tr eatments and the problems in the management of leg ulcers using a questionnaire sent to general practitioners. Material and methods. A questionnaire in 3 parts was sent to 95 general practitioners in the area working in 36 different distric ts with an explanatory letter. The first part was composed of 29 closed question s regarding prescription of topical treatment for leg ulcers. The second part, a lso closed, included 3 pictures showing a budding, a necrotic and a fibrinous ul cer. The physicians had to choose which treatmenttheywouldhaveprescribedandthefr equencyofdressings changes. The third part was composed of two open questions re garding the problems encountered. The survey started on May 1st and was closed o n June 30th 2002. No reminders were sent. Results. We received 52 replies, 49 of which were exploitable. Forty-five percent (43/95) did not reply. Occlusive dr essings were widely prescribed (mainly hydrocolloid 38/49 and hydrocellular 28/4 9). Vaseline impregnated gauzewere less prescribed (14/49). Dressings with balsa m of Peru were prescribed often by 10 and occasionally by 27 general practitione rs. Alginate or charcoal dressings were not always used appropriately. Antisepti cs were prescribed by 10 physicians. Mechanical debridement of fibrinous or necr otic wounds was rarely used even for necrotic ulcers. Topical anesthetics were p rescribed in 21 out of 33 cases of mechanical debridement. Some physicians refer red care (n=4), others complained about lack of compliance (n=15), cost (n=14), local intolerance (n=10) and the excessively wide variety of dressings (n=10). W e drew-up a synopsis with guidelines for treatment, which was sent to all the g eneral practitioners who had participated in the survey. Conclusion. Forty-thre e of the 95 physicians approached did not reply. This poor response rate, which is common in this type of survey, may include physicians who are not at ease in the management of ulcers and this may bias the results. The physicians who repli ed to the survey knew the subject well but complained of the costs and variety o f dressings. They were all eager to receive further information and guidelines.展开更多
文摘Introduction. The quantity of topical treatments for leg ulcers has increased over the last 15 years. Objective. To determine the prescriptions for topical tr eatments and the problems in the management of leg ulcers using a questionnaire sent to general practitioners. Material and methods. A questionnaire in 3 parts was sent to 95 general practitioners in the area working in 36 different distric ts with an explanatory letter. The first part was composed of 29 closed question s regarding prescription of topical treatment for leg ulcers. The second part, a lso closed, included 3 pictures showing a budding, a necrotic and a fibrinous ul cer. The physicians had to choose which treatmenttheywouldhaveprescribedandthefr equencyofdressings changes. The third part was composed of two open questions re garding the problems encountered. The survey started on May 1st and was closed o n June 30th 2002. No reminders were sent. Results. We received 52 replies, 49 of which were exploitable. Forty-five percent (43/95) did not reply. Occlusive dr essings were widely prescribed (mainly hydrocolloid 38/49 and hydrocellular 28/4 9). Vaseline impregnated gauzewere less prescribed (14/49). Dressings with balsa m of Peru were prescribed often by 10 and occasionally by 27 general practitione rs. Alginate or charcoal dressings were not always used appropriately. Antisepti cs were prescribed by 10 physicians. Mechanical debridement of fibrinous or necr otic wounds was rarely used even for necrotic ulcers. Topical anesthetics were p rescribed in 21 out of 33 cases of mechanical debridement. Some physicians refer red care (n=4), others complained about lack of compliance (n=15), cost (n=14), local intolerance (n=10) and the excessively wide variety of dressings (n=10). W e drew-up a synopsis with guidelines for treatment, which was sent to all the g eneral practitioners who had participated in the survey. Conclusion. Forty-thre e of the 95 physicians approached did not reply. This poor response rate, which is common in this type of survey, may include physicians who are not at ease in the management of ulcers and this may bias the results. The physicians who repli ed to the survey knew the subject well but complained of the costs and variety o f dressings. They were all eager to receive further information and guidelines.
