@Article{Urbanek2015,
journal="Phlebological Review",
issn="1232-7174",
volume="23",
number="2",
year="2015",
title="Assessment of public awareness in the field of epidemiology, prevention and treatment of chronic venous diseases in Poland",
abstract=" 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.",
author="Urbanek, Tomasz
and Dorobisz, Andrzej
and Gabriel, Marcin
and Hendiger, Włodzimierz
and Jawień, Arkadiusz
and Kucharzewski, Marcin
and Madycki, Grzegorz
and Rybak, Zbigniew
and Staszkiewicz, Walerian
and Zubilewicz, Tomasz
and Ziaja, Krzysztof",
pages="45--53",
doi="10.5114/pr.2015.54035",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.5114/pr.2015.54035"
}