title: Management of chronic venous disease by primary care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the patterns of referral for chronic venous disease (CVD).
  
  
  METHODS
  General practitioners (GPs) were invited by an email to complete a validated online survey evaluating the referral and community management of CVD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 138 participants were recruited. Most GPs (85%) saw fewer than 50 patients with CVD a year. Thirty-one percent were aware of National Institute for Clinical Excellence referral guidelines for CVD and 36% were aware of and agreed with local referral guidelines. Eleven percent were aware of clinical venous scoring systems. Sixty-three percent believed mild CVD would progress and 84% believed treatment would improve the quality of life. Sixteen referred C3 disease, 43% C4, 37% C5 and 65% C6 disease. Forty-one percent would refer on request. Pain symptoms increased referral in C2 disease. Endothermal ablation was believed available to 33% and traditional stripping to 62% and 27% were unaware of the treatment options. Forty-five percent were happy to provide postoperative care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite national guidelines, the management of CVD in the UK is variable.
authors.affiliation: Academic Section of Vascular Surgery, Division of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College School of Medicine, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK. tristan.lane@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: T R A
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sritharan
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Herbert
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003625:Data Collection; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*