Knowledge and attitudes regarding care of leg ulcers. Survey of family physicians

Abstract

Objective: To determine family physicians' perceptions of and attitudes toward leg ulcer care and awareness of effective treatments for venous leg ulcers.

Design: Self-administered, cross-sectional faxed and mailed survey.

Setting: Ottawa-Carleton, Ont.

Participants: All physicians in the region who were members of the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

Results: Response rate was 62%. During 1 month, 107 physicians reported having 226 patients with leg ulcers; only a few patients had had ultrasound assessment. Few physicians (16%) were confident about managing leg ulcers; 61% reported not knowing enough about wound-care products. More than 50% were unaware that compression is effective treatment for venous ulcers. Problems reported were lack of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for leg ulcer care (82%); absence of evidence-based protocols in home-care agencies (72%); lack of access to wound-care products (69%) and wound-care centres (66%); and poor communication among health care workers (60%).

Conclusion: Better access to diagnostic assessments and use of compression therapy for venous leg ulcers would improve care.