title: Vulval diseases need an interdisciplinary approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vulval diseases are common, but their frequency and importance are often underestimated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study intended to evaluate the number of patients with vulval diseases seen in medical practice. Furthermore, the acceptance of an interdisciplinary vulval disease clinic, managed by a dermatologist in cooperation with a gynaecologist and a psychologist, was evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  In April and Mai 1998, a mailing survey of all gynaecologists (n = 239), general practitioners (n = 244) and dermatologists (n = 96) in Thuringia, Germany, containing 7 questions concerning patients with vulval diseases was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  49% (n = 286) of the questionnaires were returned. On average, 97% of the physicians regularly treated females with genital diseases. The most common diseases mentioned by all specialities were local fungal and bacterial infections. The further ranking of diagnosis was different between the specialities. It was estimated that 83% of patients with chronic disorders would develop additional psychological problems. The necessity of an interdisciplinary vulval disease clinic in Thuringia was stated by 71% of the interviewed physicians. 76% of the gynaecologists and 75% of the general practitioners welcomed the introduction of the clinic. Interestingly, only 51% of the dermatologists felt that a vulval disease clinic was necessary.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of the physicians in Thuringia welcomed an interdisciplinary vulval disease clinic to improve the conditions for women suffering from genital diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Informatics and Documentation, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany. abau@derma.uni-jena.de
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Greif
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vollandt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Merker
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Elsner
mesh_terms: D003880:Dermatology; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D011584:Psychology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*