Assessment of public awareness in the field of epidemiology, prevention and treatment of chronic venous diseases in Poland

Aim of the study: Both prevention and treatment of chronic venous disease (CVD) are potentially related to the proper patient knowledge in this field. This paper presents the results of a study commissioned by Polish Society of Phlebology concerning the patient awareness in the field of epidemiology, prevention and treatment of CVD in Poland.

Material and methods: The study was performed with the use of computer-assisted interviews conducted on a nationwide representative sample (n = 828) and additionally on a nationwide representative sample of women (n = 177).

Results: The most common complaint reported by the respondents was a feeling of heaviness and fatigue in the lower limbs – 62%. Thirty-seven percent reported lowerleg pain related to body posture and 33% lower limb swelling. In 27% the presence of varicose veins and in 2% crural ulcers were reported. The majority of symptomatic respondents (64%) never reported their problems to the physicians; 23% of them received assistance from a pharmacist. Among symptomatic patients, compression therapy was used by 11%, 23% took medication, and 18% received dietary supplements. The most common source of information on CVD was the knowledge obtained from friends and families (37%) and from the media (37%). Only 22% indicated the physician as a knowledge resource. As many as 7 out of 10 respondents believed that the education in the area of CVD is necessary.

Conclusions: Despite the fact that CVD are widespread among patients, they are still rarely diagnosed by medical personnel and the level of patient knowledge concerning CVD remains low.