title: New patient-applied therapy for anogenital warts is rated favourably by patients.
abstract: Our objective was to determine patient attitudes to having genital warts, and their perceptions of their treatment with imiquimod and other therapies. As an adjunct to a clinical trial in which patients with external genital warts were treated with imiquimod 5% cream until their warts cleared or for up to 16 weeks, quantitative questionnaires consisting of multiple choice questions and 5-point rating scales were completed prior to, and at the end, of the study period. Pre-study and post-study questionnaires were completed by 902 and 629 patients, respectively. Patients expressed a definite concern about genital warts. The majority of patients (70%) had been previously treated for genital warts, and expressed dissatisfaction with their previous therapies. Of patients treated with imiquimod in this study, 82% reported that their warts decreased in size; this occurred within the first 4 weeks for 78% of patients. Sixty-one per cent of patients perceived that their warts completely cleared within the 16-week treatment period. Patients rated imiquimod 5% cream as better than other genital wart therapies in terms of overall satisfaction, time to clearance, convenience and lack of associated pain. In conclusion, patients rated imiquimod 5% cream as an effective treatment which clears warts in an acceptable length of time causing minimal pain and is convenient to use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genito-Urinary Medicine, The Countess of Chester Hospital, Countess of Chester Health Park, Liverpool Road, Chester CH2 1UL, UK. dr.o'mahony@coch-tr.nwest.nhs.uk
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Mahony
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Gollnick
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marini
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005834:Genital Neoplasms, Male / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014860:Warts / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000634:Aminoquinolines; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077271:Imiquimod